The CUET 2026 will be held between May 11 and May 31, 2026. Candidates willing to appear for the CUET 2026 Performing Arts exam can check the CUET Performing Arts Syllabus here. It will help students get an idea about the topics from which the questions are asked in the exam. Learn about the CUET Performing Arts syllabus, exam pattern, and more.
CUET Performing Arts Syllabus: NTA released the official CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026 at cuet.nta.nic.in. Candidates preparing for the CUET Performing Arts exam must download and cover the entire topics included in the CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026. The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) are conducted by the National Testing Agency to offer admission to various UG-level courses in all the central/private/deemed/state universities and other participating institutes in India. CUET UG 2026 will take place between May 11 and May 31, 2026. While filling the CUET Application forms, candidates must select Performing Arts as a domain subject to take the subject test. Candidates preparing for getting admission to Performing Arts courses through the CUET exam 2026 must check the CUET Performing Arts Syllabus and prepare accordingly.
Explore colleges based on CUET
For better preparation for the CUET UG Performing Arts exam, candidates should also refer to the previous years’ Performing Arts question papers, as it will help them know the total marks, chapter-wise weightage, topics, and types of questions asked in the exam.
The CUET UG syllabus for all subjects has been released. CUET UG offers a total of 37 domain subjects. On this page, the candidates can find the complete CUET UG Performing Arts syllabus.
- CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026: Highlights
- CUET Performing Arts Syllabus
- CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026 PDF Download
- CUET 2026 Exam Pattern
- Download the CUET Domain Wise Question Paper and Syllabus
CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026: Highlights
CUET Performing Arts Syllabus
In the Performing Arts Subject, there are a total of four sections which are Dance, Drama-Theatre, and Music. Candidates can check the detailed CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026 in the table below:
UGC has announced the deletion of 26 subjects from CUET UG 2025 onwards. CUET UG 20 foreign languages and six domain subjects have been removed. Check the list below to know the name of the subjects:
- Foreign Languages (French, Spanish, German, Nepali, Persian, Italian, Arabic, Sindhi, Kashmiri, Konkani, Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Manipuri, Santhali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Japanese, Russian, Chinese)
- Domain Subjetcs (Entrepreneurship, Teaching Aptitude, Fashion Studies, Tourism, Legal Studies, Engineering Graphics)
Candidates can see the table showing the latest CUET UG exam pattern 2026 below -
Section | Number of Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|
Language | 50 | 60 Minutes |
Domain Specific | 50 | |
General Test | 50 |
Note: The exam pattern is taken from official website of the conducting body and can be changed if instructed by it.
Hope this helps your query! All the best!
| Section |
Unit |
Details / Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Music (Section A) |
Unit I |
Definitions: Sangeet, Nad, Shruti, Swara (Shuddha, Komal, Teevra), Pitch, Intensity, Timbre, Gram, Murcchana, Varna, Alankar, Raga, Alap, Tana, Gamak, Meend, Kan |
| Unit II |
Vadi, Samvadi, Anuvadi, Vivadi, Uttarang, Puravang, Aroh, Avroh, Pakad, Thata (Mela), Jati – Audav, Shadav, Sampurna and varieties |
|
| Unit III |
Laya (Vilambit, Madhya, Drut), Layakari (Dagun, Tigun, Chaugun, Chegun), Tala terms (Tala, Matra, Tali, Khali, Sam, Vibhag, Avartan), Talas: Teental, Ektala, Dadra, Keharwa, Jhaptala, Rupak, Adi, Saptala, Chaputala, Rupakam |
|
| Unit IV |
Musical forms: Prabandh, Dhrupad, Khayal, Thumri, Tarana, Maseetkhani & Razakhani Gat, Kriti, Pallavi, Padam, Tillana |
|
| Unit V |
Contributions of musicians: V.N. Bhatkhande, Omkar Nath Thakur, Allauddin Khan, Mushtaq Ali Khan, Tyagaraja, Purandaradasa, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam |
|
| Unit VI |
Musical instruments & classification: String (Sitar, Tanpura, Veena, Sarod, Sarangi), Percussion (Tabla, Pakhawaj, Mridangam, Khatam, Khanjira, Dholak), Wind (Flute, Shehnai, Nagaswaram, Harmonium), Metallic (Chimta, Cymbal, Ghungroo, Khadtala, Chipla, Morchung) |
|
| Unit VII |
Salient features of ragas: Yaman/Kalyani, Bhairav/Mayamalavagowla, Alhaiya Bilawal/Shankarabharanam, Malkauns/Hindolam, Bageshree/Shri Ranjani, Bhupali/Mohanam |
|
| Dance (Section B) |
Unit I |
Classical dances of India (Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Kathakali, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam, Sattriya): History, repertoire, music, costume & makeup |
| Unit II |
Life sketches of chief exponents and contributors (past & present) |
|
| Unit III |
Terms: Sangeet, Natya, Nritta, Nritya, Tandav, Lasya, Lokdharmi, Natyadharmi |
|
| Unit IV |
Texts: Abhinaya Darpan, Natya Shastra, Abhinaya Chandrika, Hasta Lakshana Deepika; Major folk dances of India |
|
| Unit V |
Abhinaya & Rasa theory: Aangika, Vachika, Aaharya, Satwika; Navrasa & Sthayi Bhava; Bhava, Vibhava, Anubhava, Sanchari |
|
| Unit VI |
Survey of classical dance practice: Gharanas, institutions, university departments; Major dance festivals |
|
| Percussion Music (Section C) |
Unit I |
Structure of Tabla, Pakhawaj and Mridangam |
| Unit II |
Varnas of Tabla, Pakhawaj and Mridangam |
|
| Unit III |
Tala terminology, compositions (Theka, Kayada, Rela, Tukda, Paran, etc.), Carnatic forms (Korvai, Mohra, Muktayipu), Laya, Layakari, Jati |
|
| Unit IV |
Bhatkhande Tala Notation System & Carnatic Tala Notation System |
|
| Unit V |
Origin of Tabla, Pakhawaj, Mridangam; Gharanas of Tabla & Pakhawaj |
|
| Unit VI |
Prescribed Talas: Teental, Jhaptala, Ektala, Rupak, Keharwa, Dadra, Chautala, Dhamar, Sooltala, Khemta, Carnatic Talas (Dhruva, Matya, Jhampa, Triputa, Ata, Eka) |
|
| Unit VII |
Biographies: Pt. Kishan Maharaj, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Raja Chatrapati Singh, Guru Purushottam Das, Palani Subramania Pillai, Palghat Mani Iyer |
|
| Drama & Theatre (Section D) |
Unit I |
Indian classical & traditional theatre: Sanskrit playwrights (Bhasa, Kalidasa, Sudraka, Bhavabhuti), major traditional forms |
| Unit II |
Modern Indian theatre: Tagore, Bhartendu, Tendulkar, Mohan Rakesh, Girish Karnad etc.; Theatre practitioners |
|
| Unit III |
Western classical & medieval drama: Greek playwrights (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides), Shakespeare |
|
| Unit IV |
Modern Western theatre: Chekhov, Ibsen, Shaw, Beckett, Brecht etc.; Theatre practitioners |
|
| Unit V |
Theatre production & design: Types of theatres; Set, light, costume, makeup, sound & music |
|
| Unit VI |
Indian theatre organisations (NSD, SNA, ZCCs); Research project development & documentation |
CUET Performing Arts Syllabus 2026 PDF Download
Students who are preparing to appear for the Fine Arts exams can download the CUET Syllabus 2026 Performing Arts PDF from the direct link provided below.
National Testing Agency has not introduced any specific changes for CUET UG 2026. However, in CUET 2025, NTA introduced major changes like
- Reduction of CUET subjects from 63 to 37
- GAT scores will be used for dropped subjects
- Exma to be held CBT mode only
- Compulsory 50 questions in each subject, no optional questions
- Maximum five CUET subjects can be chosen
The above changes are to continued for CUET UG 2026 exam.
National Testing Agency has informed that there are no significant changes in CUET UG 2026. The pattern and syllabus shall remain same. The CUET UG 2026 exam consists of 37subjects- 13 langauges, 23 domain subjects and General Aptitude Test. As per the recent notification, candidates must make sure to update their Aadhar card and UDID cards. It is expected that CUET exam centre 2026 will be alloted based on candidate's updated address.
Download Official CUET UG Performing Arts Syllabus 2026 PDF
CUET 2026 Exam Pattern
For better preparation of exams, the students should also check the CUET exam pattern. It will help them become aware of type of questions asked in the exam, total number of questions asked, the marking scheme, and more. Candidates can check the detailed CUET 2026 exam pattern below.
| Section |
Number of Questions |
Question Types |
|---|---|---|
| Section IA (Language) |
40 questions to be attempted out of 50 |
Reading Comprehension based on different types of passages–Factual, Literary and Narrative, (Literary Aptitude and Vocabulary) |
| Section IB |
||
| Section II (Domain Subject) |
35/40 Questions to be attempted out of 45/50 |
Input text can be used for MCQ Based Questions MCQs based on NCERT Class 12 syllabus only |
| Section III (General Test) |
50 Questions to be attempted out of 60 |
Input text can be used for MCQ Based Questions General Knowledge, Current Affairs, General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning (Simple application of basic mathematical concepts arithmetic/algebra geometry/mensuration/s tat taught till Grade 8), Logical and Analytical Reasoning |
| CUET Performing Arts Mapping for Courses |
Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor in Performing Arts in Music Production (B.P.A.) |
|
Also Read:
Download the CUET Domain Wise Question Paper and Syllabus
Candidates can access the CUET 2026 syllabus and CUET previous year's question papers for all the subjects in the table below:

Shahzad carries 8+ years of editorial experience in various domains of the education sector, including but not limited to Boards, Engineering, Medical, MBA, and many more. He has been helping students by providing v
Read Full BioNews & Updates
Explore Other Exams
5 Jan '26 - 6 Apr '26 | NEST 2026 Application Process |
5 Jan '26 - 12 Apr '26 | NEST 2026 Application Process |
5 Mar '26 - 13 Apr '26 | IISER Aptitude Test 2026 Regis... |
13 Apr '26 - 15 Apr '26 | IISER Aptitude Test 2026 Corre... |
Jul '25 | ITM NEST 2025 Result Date |
Jun '25 | ITM NEST 2025 Exam date |
Mar '26 | OUAT Entrance Exam 2026 Form A... |
Apr '26 | OUAT Entrance Exam 2026 Form A... |
Jul '22 | DAVV CET 2022 Registration |
Dec '24 | TISSNET 2024 Mock Test |
Jun '24 | TISS Online Assessment 2024 |
Student Forum
Answered Yesterday
CUET language exam is conducted for 13 langauges. This section includes 50 multiple-choice questions in which no optional questions are provided. Candidates can check below to know the expected weightage of CUET language important topics:
Topics | Expected number of questions |
|---|---|
Comprehension | 15 |
Parts of speech | 3-4 |
Para jumbles | 3-4 |
Synonyms and antonyms | 2-3 |
Active/passive voice | 3-4 |
Fill in the blanks | 3-4 |
Incorrect/correct statement | 3-4 |
Phrases and meaning | 5-6 |
D
Contributor-Level 6
Answered Yesterday
CUET UG syllabus for Delhi University admission is completely based on NCERT curriculum. CUET UG syllabus for Delhi University varies depending on the course that candidate desires to pursue and CUET subjects that have been opted. Candidates can download the CUET UG 2026 syllabus for 13 languages,
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered Yesterday
CUET UG exam structure for Science examination is similar to other streams subject. NTA prescribes the common exam pattern for CUET subjects. As per the notification, each CUET subject will follow below structure:
- Number of questions: 50 Multiple Choice Questions
- Optional questions: Not provided
- Durati
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered Yesterday
Candidates have to appear for number of subjects chosen for CUET exam. Students can opt for maximum five CUET subjects. Candidates must have selected the CUET subjects based on the course criteria they desire to pursue. CUET UG syllabus is similar to class 12 NCERT curriculum. Candidates preparing f
K
Contributor-Level 6
Answered Yesterday
National Testing Agency conducts CUET UG exam for 37 subjects across Science, Commerce and Arts streams. CUET UG 2026 is scheduled to be held between May 11 and May 31, 2026. Candidates who have opted for CUET subjects as per B.Com hons. course criteria can check their CUET subject wise exam date 2
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
The best college under CUET UG depends on the candidate's course preference. However, top CUET colleges include Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Banaras Hindu University known for their Arts, Science and Commerce courses. Top private CUET colleges include Amity University, LPU and
D
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
There are no prescribed marks for CUET passing criteria. Once candidate has appeared for the exam, candidates must apply for CUET counselling on official website of desired university. Based on counselling applications and CUET score, accepting universities will release the CUET cutoffs. Candidates
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
CUET UG exam is conducted in Computer-Based Test Mode. The examination is scheduled in multiple slots depending on the number of registrations for CUET. In this mode of examination, candidates are required to appear for exam online and answer the questions on deskptop with the help of mouse.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
On the day of CUET exam, candidates must report at alloted exam centre one hour before the given time. Candidates must make sure to carry the following items are CUET exam centre:
- Print copy of CUET UG 2026 hall ticket with self declaration (undertaking)
- Ball point pen
- Additional passport size photogra
K
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
Once National Testing Agency has issued the CUET intimation slip or admit card, the request for change in exam centre will not be entertained. Candidates cannot change the exam city or alloted exam centre once the CUET admit cards are released. Candidates must report at the allotted centre on given
N
Contributor-Level 6
Exam On - 11 May '26 - 31 May '26
NTA prescribes the CUET UG marking scheme. Check below to know the CUET UG marking scheme 2026: