The confirmed U.S. National ACT dates for the 2026–2027 testing year are September 19, October 17, and December 12, 2026, followed by February 27, April 10, June 12, and July 10, 2027. Registration, late registration, and photo deadlines differ for each date.
This calendar is for National testing in the United States, U.S. territories, and Puerto Rico. International and school-managed testing use separate schedules. Check your actual registration before making travel or application plans.
Confirmed National calendar
The table below was checked against ACT’s dedicated test-date page on September 6, 2026. Deadlines on that page are listed at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. ACT National test dates
| Test date | Regular deadline | Late deadline | Photo upload / standby deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 19, 2026 | August 14, 2026 | September 1, 2026 | September 14, 2026 |
| October 17, 2026 | September 11, 2026 | September 29, 2026 | October 12, 2026 |
| December 12, 2026 | November 6, 2026 | November 29, 2026 | December 7, 2026 |
| February 27, 2027 | January 22, 2027 | February 9, 2027 | February 22, 2027 |
| April 10, 2027 | March 5, 2027 | March 23, 2027 | April 5, 2027 |
| June 12, 2027 | May 7, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | June 7, 2027 |
| July 10, 2027 | June 4, 2027 | June 22, 2027 | July 5, 2027 |
A published date does not guarantee a seat at your preferred center. Review available centers and formats in MyACT, and save the confirmation after registration.
As of this article’s review date, the regular and late deadlines for September 19 have already passed. Do not read the remaining photo deadline as permission to complete ordinary late registration.
New York’s July exception has changed
Older advice often says there is no July ACT in New York. ACT’s current calendar says July testing will be available in New York beginning in 2027, with centers added as they become available through spring 2027. ACT’s New York July notice
That is not a guarantee that every New York location will offer a seat. Search the actual registration options and consider transportation before relying on July 10 for an important deadline.
Keep the year visible when sharing the update. A statement about July 2026 does not answer a question about July 2027.
What each deadline means
The regular deadline is the main target for registration planning. Waiting until the late period can add cost and reduce the options available to you.
The late deadline is not the same as the photo deadline. A student who misses late registration should review ACT’s current standby rules; standby is not a guaranteed seat.
The photo deadline is a separate completion requirement for the registration. Uploading a photo does not itself reserve a test, and paying for a test does not excuse missing the photo requirement.
A good calendar therefore contains several entries for one test date, not just the Saturday on which you plan to appear.
Add accommodations to the calendar early
Beginning with the June 2026 event, ACT’s published accommodations submission deadline is the regular registration deadline. Requests and appeals need to follow the current process with the responsible school official. Special Testing also follows its own window. ACT accommodations dates and process
Do not wait for late registration and assume you still have the same accommodations-request window. The deadline is a submission boundary, not a guarantee of approval or of a preferred room.
For the October 17, 2026 National event, the current accommodations page lists September 11 as the submission deadline. Start coordination before that date so missing information can be identified while there is still time.
If you are homeschooled or not currently enrolled, use the separate ACT instructions for that situation.
Device readiness may add another deadline
Students assigned a National online bring-your-own-device arrangement must complete the applicable setup and readiness process. ACT’s current student resources provide test-specific readiness deadlines. ACT Gateway student readiness
Do not treat “my laptop works for school” as confirmation that it is ready for the test. Follow the supported-device and application instructions attached to your registration.
If the center supplies the computer, follow that assignment instead. Your calendar should reflect the option you actually selected, not every possible option described online.
Choose a date backward from your goal
Begin with the latest date on which a recipient will accept your scores. Then identify which test administrations that recipient permits. Only after those checks should you choose among available seats.
For an original planning example, suppose a fictional scholarship requires complete scores by December 1. The December 12 test cannot serve that deadline. Even the October test needs a check of reporting expectations and the scholarship’s accepted-date policy.
Do not assume that a test occurring before a deadline guarantees scores will be available before it. Scoring and recipient processing are separate steps.
Initial score release is not a universal delivery promise
ACT publishes initial release dates for paper and online testing. Those dates identify when eligible processed scores begin to become available, not when every examinee must receive a complete report. Writing and other processing factors can affect the timeline. ACT score-release schedule
If you need a report by a hard deadline, leave room for variability and ask the recipient how it handles late-arriving results. A calendar should help you reduce risk, not create a false guarantee.
International and school-day testing need separate calendars
International students should use ACT’s international schedule. For example, the published international 2026–2027 calendar includes October 23–24, 2026, rather than the U.S. National October 17 date. Do not mix its registration deadlines with the National table. ACT international date schedule
State and District testing is arranged through participating systems. Ask the school coordinator for the dates, included sections, format, and any required pretest steps.
If your school offers an ACT during the week and you also register for National testing, keep the two records distinct.
A registration planning checklist
Once you select a target date, record:
- The testing program and exact date.
- A first-choice and workable backup location.
- The selected Science and Writing options.
- The regular and applicable completion deadlines.
- Any accommodations coordination steps.
- Any device readiness requirement.
- The recipient’s latest accepted date and reporting policy.
- A realistic study and review schedule.
Set reminders before the actual deadlines, not only on them. Give yourself room to resolve a missing photo, unavailable seat, or unanswered policy question.
Use the ACT score calculator with supported official practice forms to establish a preparation baseline. SHSPrep’s ACT program includes lessons, targeted practice, and two original full-length mock tests with raw performance results; a verified calendar and a specific study plan are useful starting points as you begin.