The National Institute of Design (NID) has notified that it will soon START the admission process for NID DAT 2026. The notice has been published at the NID admission portal – admissions.nid.edu.
The notice says “Admissions 2026-27 will be announced soon.”
The admission process for NID DAT 2025 has concluded. NID has removed most of the updates on the NID 2025 exam, including counseling and seat allotment updates.
Further, the links to download the admission handbooks, which still exist, keep you on the same page. These are all indications that the website is undergoing a transition phase, and it will soon include updates on the NID DAT 2026 exam.
NID DAT 2026 – Exam Notice OUT
This is what the NID DAT 2026 exam notice says:

Information to be included in NID DAT 2026 admission portal
The NID DAT 2026 admission portal, once it is updated, will include the following and other exam-related information:
- Admission handbooks for the Bachelor of Design and Master of Design courses
- Important Updates
- How to apply
- Institute-wise Program of Study
- Fee structure
- DAT Prelims sample papers
- Announcements
- Amendments, if any
When will the NID DAT application form 2026 open?
In the previous edition, the application form opened on September 3, 2024. Recently, NID, as mentioned above, has also released a notice saying the admission process will start soon.
So, there is a chance that the NID DAT 2026 application form will start anytime now.
The application form will be released online at admissions.nid.edu.
Candidates who meet the program-specific NID DAT 2026 eligibility criteria may apply for the exam before the last date.
NID Exam Date 2026
It is likely that the NID DAT 2026 exam (Prelims) will be conducted in the 1st week of January 2026. The exam will be administered in a pen-and-paper mode.
Candidates who qualify DAT Prelims next have to appear in DAT Mains.
The final result of NID DAT 2026 will be prepared by giving weightage to DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.