ACCA Exam Dates & Deadlines (2026–2027)

ACCA runs four exam sittings a year — March, June, September and December. For each one, two dates decide everything: the standard entry deadline, when you lock in the lowest exam fee, and results day. This page lists the confirmed dates for the upcoming 2026 sittings, explains the deadlines that catch people out, and shows how to plan your study around them. If you are mapping out a longer route, pair it with a structured ACCA course so your revision is built around the right sitting.

Upcoming ACCA exam dates at a glance

ACCA confirms each timetable at least six months ahead, so the December 2026 dates are expected soon. We update this page as soon as they are published — bookmark it and check back before you book.

ACCA September 2026 exam dates

The September 2026 exams run from 7 to 11 September 2026. The key dates are:

• Exam entry opened: 5 May 2026
• Standard entry deadline: 27 July 2026 (lowest fee)
• Late entry deadline: 3 August 2026 (higher fee)
• Results released: 19 October 2026

September 2026 exam timetable

The September sitting offers the Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams. Once you have your dates, our guide to preparing for the September sitting walks through a sensible revision timeline.

ACCA December 2026 exam dates

December is ACCA's fourth and final sitting of the year. At the time of writing, ACCA has not yet published the December 2026 entry deadlines or exam timetable. Because ACCA announces timetable changes at least six months ahead, expect these to land shortly — we will add them here as soon as they are confirmed. In the meantime, you can plan around a likely early-December exam week and a standard entry deadline in late October.

Exams you can sit any time: on-demand CBEs

Not every ACCA exam is tied to a sitting. The first four Applied Knowledge and Corporate and Business Law exams — Business and Technology (BT), Management Accounting (MA), Financial Accounting (FA) and Corporate and Business Law (LW) — are available as on-demand computer-based exams (CBEs) that you can book year-round at a licensed centre, rather than waiting for March, June, September or December. If you are early in the qualification, you can clear these whenever you are ready and save the fixed sittings for the later Applied Skills and Strategic Professional papers.

How ACCA exam deadlines work

Each sitting has a tiered set of dates. Understanding them is the difference between paying the lowest fee and paying a premium — or missing the sitting altogether:

• Standard entry deadline — enter by this date and you pay the lowest exam fee. This is the one to aim for every time.
• Late entry deadline — where a sitting offers it, you can still enter after the standard deadline by paying a higher late fee, up to this cut-off. Not every sitting has late entry.
• Results day — when your marks are released, typically around six weeks after the exam week.

For a full breakdown of what each tier costs, see our guide to ACCA exam fees.

What happens if you miss the deadline?

If the sitting offers late entry, you can still get in by paying the late fee before the late deadline. If it does not — or if you miss the late deadline too — your next option is the following sitting, which can mean a three-month wait and a knock to your study momentum. The safest approach is to enter as soon as entry opens and treat the standard deadline as your real cut-off.

Booking, amending and deferring your exam

You enter and pay for exams through your myACCA account; our step-by-step ACCA exam booking guide covers the process. You can amend or cancel an entry up to the deadline for that sitting — change the exam, the variant or the centre while entry is still open. Once the deadline passes, your entry is locked, so confirm your choice before the cut-off rather than after.

Planning your study around the dates

Most students need three to six months of focused study per paper, so work backwards from your exam week, not forwards from today. Pick your sitting, set the standard entry deadline as a hard line in your calendar, and build your revision plan to peak in the fortnight before the exam. Studying with a provider whose plans are tied to the sitting — like Learnsignal's ACCA online courses — keeps the timetable and your revision in step.

Frequently asked questions

When are the next ACCA exams?

The next sitting is September 2026, running 7–11 September. After that comes December 2026, whose dates ACCA confirms closer to the time. The June 2026 sitting (1–5 June) has already taken place.

What is the ACCA exam entry deadline for September 2026?

The standard entry deadline is 27 July 2026, which secures the lowest fee. Late entry is open until 3 August 2026 at a higher fee.

What happens if I miss the ACCA entry deadline?

If the sitting offers late entry, you can still enter at a higher fee up to the late deadline. If it does not, you will need to wait for the next sitting. Aim for the standard deadline every time.

Can I change or cancel my ACCA exam entry?

Yes — you can amend or cancel an entry up to the deadline for that sitting. After the deadline your entry stands, so make any changes while entry is still open.

Which ACCA exams can I sit at any time?

Business and Technology (BT), Management Accounting (MA), Financial Accounting (FA) and Corporate and Business Law (LW) are available as on-demand CBEs year-round. The remaining Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams are only offered in the March, June, September and December sittings.

How far in advance should I start studying?

Plan for three to six months of focused study per paper. Learnsignal's ACCA courses let you start whenever suits you, with study plans built around your exam date.

Be ready when the dates arrive

Tracking the calendar is only half the job — the other half is being prepared when exam week comes. Learnsignal's flexible ACCA courses fit around your work, with AI-adaptive study and tutor support right up to exam day. Explore ACCA courses and build your prep around the sitting you are aiming for.