NID Exam Center 2026 : B.Des and M.Des Test City, Reporting Time, Exam-day Guidelines
National Institute of Design Entrance Exam 2026 ( NID Entrance Exam )
Registration - 11 Sep '25 - 1 Dec '25
NID DAT Exam Centre 2026 - The list of NID DAT 2026 exam centers will be published in the NID DAT 2026 Admission Handbooks. The candidate will have to select their choice of exam center when filling out the NID DAT 2026 Application form.
NID DAT Prelims 2026 Exam is to be conducted on December 21, 2025 for B.Des and M.Des. The Admit card for Prelims is to be released on December 11, 2025. NID DAT Mains Admit cards are expected to be out in the last week of February 2026.
The name and address of the allotted exam center will be mentioned in the NID DAT 2026 Admit card. On the NID DAT exam day, the candidate must bring the admit card and a valid photo ID proof. When inside the exam center, one has to follow the NID DAT 2026 exam-day guidelines.
Go through the rest of the article to learn the full details about the NID DAT exam center for 2026.
- NID DAT 2026 Exam Centres: What is new?
- NID Entrance Exam 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule
- Will the exam centres be the same for DAT Prelims and DAT Mains?
- Exam Day Guidelines for NID Admission Test 2026
- What is the NID DAT 2026 Exam?
- NID DAT 2026 Exam Centre Reporting, Gate Closing Times
- List of NID DAT 2026 Exam Centers (DAT Prelims)
- NID DAT Exam Centre - FAQs
NID DAT 2026 Exam Centres: What is new?
The list of NID exam centers will be published in the NID DAT 2026 Admission Handbooks for the B.Des and M.Des programs. The DAT Prelims is expected to be conducted in these cities across India: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kurukshetra, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram and Vijayawada.
A city may have more than one test centre. NID reserves the right to add or remove any test centre and allot a test centre that may not be of the candidate's choice. Any request for a change of test centre will not be entertained.
Commonly asked questions
The details of NID DAT 2026 Exam centre, including name, address, and reporting time will be notified to the candidate through NID DAT 2026 Admit card. DAT Prelims admit card will be available for download from December 11, 2025.
NID Entrance Exam 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule
Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of NID Entrance Exam 2026 exam
| Dates | Upcoming Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| 11 Sep ' 25 - 01 Dec ' 25 | NID DAT 2026 Registration Date ONGOING |
| 02 Dec ' 25 - 04 Dec ' 25 | NID DAT 2026 Application Correction Window |
| 11 Dec ' 25 | NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) - Issue of Admit Cards |
| 21 Dec ' 25 | NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) Date: B.Des & M.Des |
| Feb ' 26 | NID DAT 2026 (Mains) - Issue of Admit Cards for M.Des TENTATIVE |
| Apr ' 26 | NID DAT 2026 (Mains) - Issue of Admit Cards for B.Des TENTATIVE |
| May ' 26 | B.Des DAT Mains Studio Test TENTATIVE |
Will the exam centres be the same for DAT Prelims and DAT Mains?
The National Institute of Design releases exam centres separately for DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. Details like the name and address of the allotted exam centre, reporting time, etc., will be mentioned on the NID DAT 2026 admit cards (which also will be released separately for DAT Prelims and DAT Mains).
Stage 1: Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Prelims
Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Prelims will be conducted at various test centres across India. The exact names of the centres will be mentioned in the Admission Handbook of the B.Des and M.Des programmes.
Stage 2: Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Mains
Candidates shortlisted after the DAT Prelims will be invited to appear for the Stage 2 DAT Mains exam. Exact details of the Test Centre will be announced later in the DAT Mains Admit Card.
Requests for a change in the NID DAT 2026 Test Centre
Requests for change in the test centre will not be entertained. However, exam authorities reserve the right to add or remove any test centre and allot an exam centre that may not be the aspirant's choice. Candidates need to note that a city may have more than one NID test centre.
Useful Resources to prepare for NID DAT 2026 (Prelims):
| NID Entrance Exam: Last minute tips & important documents to carry for DAT |
NID vs NIFT - Key Differences, Participating Colleges, Admission Process, Placement |
Commonly asked questions
The NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) exam will be conducted in the first week of January 2026. The exam will be conducted in the following 22 cities - Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kurukshetra, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada.
The candidate has to select their choice of exam city at the time of filling out the NID DAT 2026 Application form. Note that an exam city may have one or more test centres. The allotment of exam centres will be made considered available seats in respective centres and choice of the candidate.
No, National Institute of Design may not make any arrangements for a baggage counter. So, candidates must bear this in mind when packing for NID DAT Prelims exam.
It is recommended that candidate only pack bare essentials and not bring unnecessary stuff to exam centre. Also, expensive items like smartphones, jewellery, gadgets, etc., should be better left at home.
Exam Day Guidelines for NID Admission Test 2026
The NID DAT test-takers will not be provided with any stationery, and they need to carry the same with them when they appear for the NID exam. Mentioned below is a list of documents that aspirants need to carry with them when appearing for the NID Entrance Exam 2026.
Important Documents to Carry on NID Exam Day to the Exam Centre
Admit Card: Candidates need to download their NID admit card from the official website of the design entrance exam. Next, candidates need to take a clear printout of their valid NID DAT 2026 Admit card to their allocated test center. Candidates will not be allowed to appear for the NID exam if they are not carrying a valid admit card on the day of the exam.
Photo ID Proof: Along with the admit card, candidates need to carry a valid photo ID proof to their test center. Candidates need to carry any one photo ID from the list:
- Student ID card issued by the current school/college
- Passport
- Driving License
- Aadhar Card
- Voters ID Card
- PAN Card
Stationery: Candidates need to carry their stationery for NID Entrance Exam 2026. Some materials that candidates need to carry to their NID test center are:
- Black ballpoint pen (to mark the answers in the OMR sheet)
- Lead pencils (of varying grades)
- Dry colors (such as oil pastels/color pencils/sketch pens, etc)
- Eraser
- Sharpeners
- Ruler
What shouldn't be carried on NID Exam Day to the Centre?
Candidates will not be allowed to carry mobile phones, calculators, or any other electronic device inside the NID exam hall. Any aspirant found to be carrying any such device will be asked to leave the test centre without completing his/ her exam.
Commonly asked questions
The NID DAT exam is conducted is conducted in two stages. First, the candidate has to appear in DAT Prelims, and if shortlisted has to appear in DAT Mains.
The results of DAT Prelims for B.Des will be declared on April 1, 2025, while results for the M.Des programme will be declared on February 17, 2025.
The candidate will be able to check their results by logging into the result portal using their email ID and date of birth. Such candidates who get shortlisted has to next appear in DAT Mains.
What is the NID DAT 2026 Exam?
NID DAT 2026 Entrance Exam is a two-step process.
The candidate first has to appear in the DAT Prelims. The scores of the DAT Prelims are used to shortlist candidates for the next step - DAT Mains. Both steps are mandatory. NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Prelims is a pen-and-paper-based exam wherein candidates need to attempt objective as well as subjective questions. On the other hand, NID DAT Mains comprises a Studio Test (+ Interview round for M.Des).
Commonly asked questions
NID DAT Mains 2026 exam for the B. Des and M.Des programme will be conducted in 17 cities. NID DAT 2026 exam will conducted on December 21, 2025 and application will close on December 01, 2025.
The NID DAT 2026 Studio Test and Interview for the M.Des program will be conducted from in the first week of March 2026. Candidates will be shortlisted for DAT Mains on the basis of their performance in DAT Prelims.
The Studio Test and Interview will be conducted programme-wise from. Candidates who have qualified DAT prelims are eligible to appear in DAT Mains, which comprise a Studio Test and Interview for the M.Des programme. The Studio Test is usually conducted from 9 am - 12 noon. The Interview will be conducted after the completion of the studio test.
NID DAT 2026 Exam Centre Reporting, Gate Closing Times
NID DAT Prelims exam is expected to be conducted in the first week of January, 2026. On exam day, the candidate needed to report to the NID DAT exam center at 8 am.
Schedule for NID DAT 2026 (Prelims)
The tentative schedule for NID DAT Prelims 2026 is:
| Event |
B.Des |
M.Des |
|---|---|---|
| Date of the DAT Prelims exam |
First week of January 2026 |
First week of January 2026 |
| Reporting Time |
8 AM |
8 AM |
| Gate closing time |
9.30 AM |
9.30 AM |
| Time of the exam |
10 AM - 1 PM (Part I + Part II) |
10 AM - 12.30 PM (Part I + Part II) |
Commonly asked questions
The NIDs have a combined intake of 425 seats for the B. Des programme. Of these, 45 seats are earmarked for the Industrial Design programme. The candidate can select from specializations like Ceramic and Glass Design, Furniture & Interior Design, and Product Design. The candidate will be able to select the programme of specialisation at the time of counselling.
The NID DAT 2026 Exam will be conducted for admission to B. Des and M.Des courses. The NID DAT Mains results for the B. Des program is expected to be in the third week of May, 2026. Meanwhile, DAT Mains results for the M.Des programme will be announced in the first week of May, 2026.
The NID DAT results will be declared online at admissions.nid.edu.To check your results, log-in using your email id and date of birth. Such candidates who qualify in DAT Mains will be shortlisted for counselling and seat allotment.
List of NID DAT 2026 Exam Centers (DAT Prelims)
DAT Prelims will be conducted in 22 test cities in India. The selection of the exam city has to be done when filling out the NID Application 2026 form. The name of the exam center allocated to the candidate will be notified through the NID DAT 2026 admit card.
List of NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) Exam Cities
The expected centres for NID DAT Prelims exam for B.Des and M.Des are:
| Ahmedabad |
Bengaluru |
Bhopal |
| Bhubaneshwar |
Chandigarh |
Chennai |
| Dehradun |
Guwahati |
Hyderabad |
| Jaipur |
Kochi |
Kolkata |
| Kurukshetra |
Lucknow |
Mumbai |
| Nagpur | New Delhi | Patna |
| Raipur |
Ranchi |
Thiruvananthapuram |
| Vijayawada |
|
|
Commonly asked questions
The NID DAT 2025 Prelims exam will be conducted in a pen-and-paper based mode for B.Des and M.Des programmes.
The NID DAT 2025 Mains exam for the B. Des programme comprise a Studio Test, which will also be conducted offline mode. Meanwhile, the DAT Mains exam for the M.Des programme comprises a Studio Test and Interview, which will also be conducted offline.
The Studio Test may include multiple formats (Drawing/ Sketching/ Model Making). In case of the M.Des programme, candidates are shortlisted for the Interview based on the performance of the candidate in the Studio Test.
NID DAT Prelims 2026 exam will take place in 17 cities in India. Each of these exam cities may have one or more test centres. Candidate will have to select their choice of exam centres for the DAT Prelims exam when filling out the NID DAT 2026 Application form. Candidates must be careful when selecting the exam city, because they will not be allowed to change it after the Application edit window closes.
NID DAT Exam Centre - FAQs
Go through the frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the NID DAT exam center below.
Commonly asked questions
The details of NID DAT 2026 Exam centre, including name, address, and reporting time will be notified to the candidate through NID DAT 2026 Admit card. DAT Prelims admit card will be available for download from December 11, 2025.
The NID DAT 2026 Studio Test and Interview for the M.Des program will be conducted from in the first week of March 2026. Candidates will be shortlisted for DAT Mains on the basis of their performance in DAT Prelims.
The Studio Test and Interview will be conducted programme-wise from. Candidates who have qualified DAT prelims are eligible to appear in DAT Mains, which comprise a Studio Test and Interview for the M.Des programme. The Studio Test is usually conducted from 9 am - 12 noon. The Interview will be conducted after the completion of the studio test.
NID DAT Mains 2026 exam for the B. Des and M.Des programme will be conducted in 17 cities. NID DAT 2026 exam will conducted on December 21, 2025 and application will close on December 01, 2025.
The NIDs have a combined intake of 425 seats for the B. Des programme. Of these, 45 seats are earmarked for the Industrial Design programme. The candidate can select from specializations like Ceramic and Glass Design, Furniture & Interior Design, and Product Design. The candidate will be able to select the programme of specialisation at the time of counselling.
The NID DAT 2026 Exam will be conducted for admission to B. Des and M.Des courses. The NID DAT Mains results for the B. Des program is expected to be in the third week of May, 2026. Meanwhile, DAT Mains results for the M.Des programme will be announced in the first week of May, 2026.
The NID DAT results will be declared online at admissions.nid.edu.To check your results, log-in using your email id and date of birth. Such candidates who qualify in DAT Mains will be shortlisted for counselling and seat allotment.
NID Entrance Exam Exam
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 weeks ago
The result for NID DAT Prelims 2026 will be announced on April 07, 2026 around 4 PM.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The details that cannot be modified in NID DAT 2026 Application window are programs applied, name of the candidate, date of birth, registered mobile number and registered email address.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
NID DAT 2026 Application edit window will open from December 02, 2025 to December 04, 2025.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The last date to fill the application form for NID DAT 2026 for B.Des and M.Des programme is December 01, 2025.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The NID DAT 2026 notification will provide information about eligibility, application process, fees, exam dates, exam pattern, and selection process. The notification provides details of seat capacity at each NID campus for both B.Des and M.Des.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
NID DAT 2026 notifications will be available on the official website of NID at admissions.nid.edu. Official notification of the NID entrance exam is all set to be out by the first week of September 2025. The notifications will be out for UG and PG programmes.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
National Institute of Design released the NID DAT 2026 Applications on September 11, 2025 for B.Des and M.Des programmes. The registration for NID DAT 2026 will be on the official website of NID. Candidates can fill out the application form by registering, filling in information, submitting document
S
Contributor-Level 10
33 Institutes accepting NID Entrance Exam
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LPU - Lovely Professional University
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