The 2026–2027 ACT testing year runs from June 13, 2026 through July 10, 2027 — nine national test dates in total. Each one has a regular deadline about five weeks before the test, then a late window with a $42 fee on top.
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All dates are Saturdays. Deadlines for fall 2026 onward published by ACT in spring 2026.
| Test date | Regular deadline | Late deadline (+$42) | Photo upload & standby |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 13, 2026 | May 8, 2026 | May 27, 2026 | June 5, 2026 |
| July 11, 2026 | June 5, 2026 | June 24, 2026 | July 3, 2026 |
| September 19, 2026 | Mid-August 2026 | Early September 2026 | ~September 11, 2026 |
| October 17, 2026 | September 11, 2026 | September 29, 2026 | October 9, 2026 |
| December 12, 2026 | Early November 2026 | Late November 2026 | ~December 4, 2026 |
| February 27, 2027 | Late January 2027 | Mid-February 2027 | ~February 19, 2027 |
| April 10, 2027 | Early March 2027 | Late March 2027 | ~April 2, 2027 |
| June 12, 2027 | Early May 2027 | Late May 2027 | ~June 4, 2027 |
| July 10, 2027 | Early June 2027 | Late June 2027 | ~July 2, 2027 |
Source: act.org. Specific deadlines for fall 2026 and beyond are confirmed on act.org closer to each test date.
Once you know the test date, you can predict the deadlines without looking anything up. ACT keeps the spacing consistent across the testing year.
About five weeks before the test. Pay the standard $68 fee, pick your test center, upload your photo on time.
About three weeks before the test. Adds a $42 fee. Test center options shrink fast in this window.
About one week before. Costs an extra $75 and doesn't guarantee a seat — you only test if space remains on test day.
The right ACT test date depends on what year you're in and when your college applications are due. The mistake is picking the date closest to "now" instead of the date that fits your application timeline. Here's the rough mapping most counselors recommend.
Aim for an April or June 2026 first attempt. That leaves September or October 2026 for a retake — both well before early action and early decision deadlines on November 1, 2026.
September 19 or October 17, 2026 is the latest you can test and still hit early action. December 12 is the cutoff for most regular decision deadlines. February 27, 2027 only works for late regular decision and rolling admissions.
Most students don't test until junior year. If you're an early starter, July 2026 or September 2026 gives you a baseline score with plenty of time to improve before applications open.
Leave at least 6 weeks between attempts so you can study a specific weak area, not just "more practice." Two attempts is the sweet spot for most students; three is the point of diminishing returns.
Once you've picked a date, the deadline that actually matters is the regular registration cutoff — five weeks before. That's the date to put on a reminder. See the full ACT registration reminder guide for the rest of the playbook.
Knowing the test date isn't the problem. Remembering that the deadline is five weeks earlier is.
A reminder turns a date you know into a date you act on.
The remaining 2026 national ACT test dates are June 13, July 11, September 19, October 17, and December 12. Each has its own regular registration deadline (about five weeks before) and late registration deadline (about three weeks before).
The 2026–2027 testing year includes June 13, 2026, July 11, 2026, September 19, 2026, October 17, 2026, December 12, 2026, February 27, 2027, April 10, 2027, June 12, 2027, and July 10, 2027. ACT publishes the schedule on act.org.
Registration for all 2026–2027 ACT test dates is already open. The regular registration deadline for the September 19, 2026 test is in mid-August 2026, and late registration runs through early September. Sign up early to lock in your preferred test center.
For most juniors, April or June is the strongest first attempt — that gives time for a fall retake before college application deadlines. Seniors typically aim for September or October so scores arrive before early action and early decision deadlines on November 1.
It depends on your application timeline. February ACT scores usually arrive in late February or early March. That can work for regular decision deadlines, but it's too late for early action. For seniors who only need one more chance to lift their score, February is a reasonable backup.
The pattern is consistent: regular registration closes about five weeks before the test, late registration closes about three weeks before, and the photo upload and standby deadlines are about one week before. Specific dates for each test are listed in the table above and on act.org.
Yes. Set a separate reminder for each registration deadline you want to track. The service is free, takes about 30 seconds per date, and you can use the same email for all of them.
Free reminder for any ACT registration deadline. Get notice in advance, on the day, and follow-ups until you've registered.
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