The next ACCA session exams run 7 to 11 December 2026 (late entry closes 9 November 2026; results 18 January 2027). The March 2027 session runs 1 to 5 March 2027, with standard entry closing 1 February 2027 and results on 12 April 2027. SBL sits on Tuesday 8 December 2026.
Last checked: November 2026, against ACCA's important dates and exam entry deadlines page and its exam timetables. ACCA can change dates, so always confirm in myACCA before you book.
When are the next ACCA exams?
The next ACCA session exams run from Monday 7 to Friday 11 December 2026. After that comes the March 2027 session (1 to 5 March 2027). ACCA runs four session windows a year, in March, June, September and December, and each one lasts five working days. Session exams cover the Applied Skills papers (except Corporate and Business Law, which is on demand) and every Strategic Professional paper.
The Applied Knowledge exams (BT, MA and FA) and Corporate and Business Law (LW) work differently. They are on-demand computer-based exams, so you book a date that suits you at a centre or remotely rather than waiting for a session week.
ACCA exam session dates for 2026 and 2027
This table gathers the key dates ACCA has published for the sessions that matter right now. Every deadline closes at 23:59 UK time on the date shown.
| Session | Entry opens | Standard entry closes | Late entry closes | Exam week | Results day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 5 May 2026 | 27 July 2026 | 3 August 2026 | 7 to 11 September 2026 | 19 October 2026 |
| December 2026 | 4 August 2026 | 2 November 2026 | 9 November 2026 | 7 to 11 December 2026 | 18 January 2027 |
| March 2027 | 10 November 2026 | 1 February 2027 | 8 February 2027 | 1 to 5 March 2027 | 12 April 2027 |
| June 2027 | Not yet published on ACCA's dates page at the time of checking. ACCA's transition timeline lists June 2027 as the final sitting of the current Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams. | ||||
If you are reading this in early November 2026, note that standard entry for December has already closed, but late entry is open until 9 November 2026. Late entry costs more and is only available for centre-based exams, so if you are going to sit in December, act now. Entry for March 2027 opens the following day, 10 November 2026.
Which ACCA paper is on which day? (December 2026)
ACCA publishes the paper-by-day timetable for each session. Here is the December 2026 centre-based timetable. Your exact local start time appears in the Exam Planner and on your exam docket, not on the public timetable.
| Day | Applied Skills | Strategic Professional | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 7 Dec 2026 | Audit and Assurance (AA) | Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) | FTX |
| Tue 8 Dec 2026 | Taxation (TX) | Strategic Business Leader (SBL) | FFM |
| Wed 9 Dec 2026 | Performance Management (PM) | Advanced Performance Management (APM), Advanced Taxation (ATX) | FAU |
| Thu 10 Dec 2026 | Financial Reporting (FR) | Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) | DipIFR, RSA |
| Fri 11 Dec 2026 | Financial Management (FM), Corporate and Business Law (LW) | Advanced Financial Management (AFM) |
The remote session timetable follows the same pattern by day, with DipIFR on the Friday for remote candidates. The March 2027 paper-by-day timetable had not been posted when I last checked. As a general pattern, in March and September only some variant exams (for example certain country-specific tax and audit papers) are offered, whereas June and December carry the full range.
If you are sitting SBL in December, it is on Tuesday 8 December 2026. ACCA releases the SBL pre-seen two weeks before the exam, so expect it in late November. I have written a full December 2026 SBL pre-seen plan to help you use those two weeks well.
What are the ACCA entry deadlines, and what is the difference between standard and late entry?
Each session has two entry windows:
- Standard entry is the main window. It gives you the lowest fee, and you can book, amend or cancel through the Exam Planner until it closes. Cancel before the standard deadline and the fee is refunded or held on your account.
- Late entry runs for one week after standard entry closes. It is only for centre-based exams, only if you have not already entered that session, and you cannot amend entries during it. The fee is much higher. See my ACCA exam fees page for the current numbers.
There is no longer an early entry discount window on ACCA's dates or fees pages, so the old three-tier "early, standard, late" pattern you may see on older blogs does not apply to the current sessions.
The deadline to change your exam entry or ask for additional support (for example extra time) is the same day standard entry closes. Your exam docket, which shows your timetable, desk and centre address, appears in myACCA about three weeks after standard entry closes.
When are ACCA results released?
Results come out roughly five to six weeks after each session. For the dates ACCA has published:
- September 2026 results: 19 October 2026
- December 2026 results: 18 January 2027
- March 2027 results: 12 April 2027
You can opt in to receive results by text through myACCA. You need to do this at least seven days before results day, and you only need to do it once.
What happens after results: reviews and appeals
| Step | December 2026 session | March 2027 session |
|---|---|---|
| Exam centre complaints | 15 December 2026 | 9 March 2027 |
| Mitigating circumstances notification | 15 December 2026 | 16 March 2027 |
| Administrative review request | 27 January 2027 | 21 April 2027 |
| Review outcome emailed | Week of 8 February 2027 | Week of 3 May 2027 |
| Appeals deadline | 17 February 2027 | 12 May 2027 |
| Appeal outcomes | 24 February 2027 | 19 May 2027 |
An administrative review checks that your script was marked in full and the marks were added up correctly. It is not a re-mark of your answers' quality, so think carefully before paying for one.
How many ACCA exams can I sit in one session?
ACCA allows a maximum of four exams in one session and eight in a calendar year. In my experience coaching SBL students, almost nobody should sit SBL alongside three other papers. SBL rewards practice on full timed case studies, and that takes weeks of focused effort, so pairing it with one other paper at most is a far safer plan.
What changes in 2027?
The ACCA Qualification is being redesigned. ACCA's transition timeline sets out these milestones:
- May 2027: entry opens for the first sitting of the redesigned Expertise and Strategic Professional exams (September 2027).
- June 2027: final sitting of the current Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams.
- July 2027: the new Foundations and Knowledge exams open on demand.
- August 2027: last day to enter the September 2027 session.
- September 2027: first sitting of the new Expertise and Strategic Professional exams, with results in October 2027.
Strategic Business Leader continues as S2 Strategic Business Leader in the new structure, and passes you already hold carry across as credit. I explain what that means for your exam plan on my ACCA Strategic Professional page.
How to plan your next ACCA sitting
- Pick the session first, then work backwards. For SBL, allow 10 to 12 weeks of study, with the final three weeks reserved for timed mocks and the pre-seen.
- Book in the standard window. Put the standard entry deadline in your calendar the day entry opens.
- Check your docket about three weeks after standard entry closes, and confirm your start time and centre.
- Diary the results and review dates so you can decide quickly about your next sitting.
How my book fits into your timetable
If SBL is your next paper, the December 2026 and March 2027 sessions are both realistic targets. Becoming A Strategic Business Leader is a concise revision guide that walks through the whole SBL syllabus in 19 chapters, from strategic analysis and governance to risk, technology, finance and managing change. Students tend to use it in the first half of their study plan to learn the models quickly, then refer back to it while practising past papers. You can read the first three chapters free before deciding. The SBL syllabus page shows which chapter covers each syllabus area.
Bottom line
The December 2026 session runs 7 to 11 December, with SBL on Tuesday 8 December and results on 18 January 2027. March 2027 runs 1 to 5 March, with standard entry closing 1 February 2027. June 2027 is the last sitting of the current Strategic Professional exams before the redesigned qualification starts in September 2027. Book in the standard window, check your docket, and always confirm dates in myACCA.
FAQs
When is the ACCA SBL exam in December 2026?
Strategic Business Leader is on Tuesday 8 December 2026, the second day of the 7 to 11 December session. Your local start time appears in the Exam Planner and on your exam docket. ACCA releases the SBL pre-seen two weeks before the exam, so expect it in late November 2026 through the Exam Planner, with an email to let you know it is available.
What is the ACCA late entry deadline for December 2026?
Late entry for the December 2026 session closes at 23:59 UK time on 9 November 2026. Standard entry closed on 2 November 2026. Late entry is only for centre-based exams, only if you have not already entered that session, and it costs considerably more than standard entry. Check the late fee for your country in myACCA before you book.
When do ACCA December 2026 results come out?
ACCA will release December 2026 results on 18 January 2027. You can opt in to text alerts through myACCA, but you must do so at least seven days before results day. If you want an administrative review of your script, the request deadline is 27 January 2027, with outcomes emailed in the week of 8 February 2027.
When is the March 2027 ACCA exam session?
The March 2027 session runs from 1 to 5 March 2027. Entry opens on 10 November 2026, standard entry closes on 1 February 2027 and late entry closes on 8 February 2027. Results are due on 12 April 2027. March sessions offer only some variant exams, so check your paper is available.
Is June 2027 the last sitting of the current ACCA exams?
Yes. ACCA's transition timeline lists June 2027 as the final sitting of the current Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams. The redesigned Expertise and Strategic Professional exams are first sat in September 2027, with entry opening in May 2027. Exams you have already passed carry across as credit under the new structure.
How many ACCA exams can I take in one session?
You can take up to four exams in a single session and up to eight in a calendar year. That is a ceiling, not a target. For Strategic Professional papers, especially SBL, most students do best with one or two papers per session so they have time for full timed practice and, for SBL, the pre-seen.