NIFT 2026 Round 2 choice filling is live from July 3 to July 5, 2026, with seat allotment on July 7, opening access to seats left vacant after Round 1 across all 20 campuses and 11 programmes.
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) 2026 counselling is now in its second round. Students who selected the "slide" or "float" option in Round 1 can now modify their campus and programme preferences. Round 2 also gives a fresh chance to students who could not attend the first round or were not satisfied with their allotment. A total of 5,076 seats are distributed across 20 NIFT campuses for 2026, with NIFT Nava Raipur added as a new campus this year.
- Round 2 choice filling window: July 3 to July 5, 2026 (till 11:59 PM)
- Round 2 seat allotment result: July 7, 2026
- Admission fee payment: July 7 to July 9, 2026 (till 11:59 PM)
- Total NIFT 2026 seats: 5,076 (4,596 All-India + 480 State Domicile)
- Only students who chose "slide" or "float" in Round 1 are eligible to modify preferences; "freeze" holders cannot change their allotment
- Students who did not participate in Round 1 or were not allotted a seat are also eligible for Round 2
| Direct Link to NIFT 2026 Round 2 Choice Filling and Seat Allotment (LIVE) — nift.admissions.nic.in |
NIFT 2026 Round 2 Key Dates
Round 2 of NIFT 2026 counselling begins immediately after Round 1 fee payment concludes. The schedule below lists every deadline students must track to avoid losing their Round 2 eligibility.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Round 2 choice filling and modification window opens | July 3, 2026 |
| Document verification deadline (for modified applications) | July 3, 2026 (till 8:00 PM) |
| Round 2 choice filling and modification window closes | July 5, 2026 (till 11:59 PM) |
| Round 2 seat allotment result | July 7, 2026 |
| Admission fee payment for Round 2 allotment | July 7 to July 9, 2026 (till 11:59 PM) |
NIFT 2026 Institute-wise Seat Matrix
NIFT New Delhi has the highest All-India seat intake in 2026 with 376 seats, followed by NIFT Chennai with 338 seats and three campuses — Bengaluru, Kolkata and Mumbai — with 304 seats each. Newer and smaller campuses including Nava Raipur, Daman and Varanasi each carry 102 All-India seats. Note that State Domicile seats are reserved for students with domicile in the respective state and are not available to all-India applicants.
| Campus | All-India Seats | State Domicile Seats | Total Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIFT New Delhi | 376 | — | 376 |
| NIFT Chennai | 338 | — | 338 |
| NIFT Bengaluru | 304 | — | 304 |
| NIFT Kolkata | 304 | — | 304 |
| NIFT Mumbai | 304 | — | 304 |
| NIFT Gandhinagar | 266 | — | 266 |
| NIFT Hyderabad | 266 | — | 266 |
| NIFT Bhopal | 238 | 49 | 287 |
| NIFT Kangra | 238 | 49 | 287 |
| NIFT Kannur | 238 | 49 | 287 |
| NIFT Panchkula | 238 | 49 | 287 |
| NIFT Raebareli | 228 | — | 228 |
| NIFT Bhubaneswar | 204 | 42 | 246 |
| NIFT Jodhpur | 204 | 42 | 246 |
| NIFT Patna | 204 | 42 | 246 |
| NIFT Srinagar | 170 | 60 | 230 |
| NIFT Shillong | 170 | 35 | 205 |
| NIFT Daman | 102 | 21 | 123 |
| NIFT Nava Raipur | 102 | 21 | 123 |
| NIFT Varanasi | 102 | 21 | 123 |
| Grand Total | 4,596 | 480 | 5,076 |
NRI supernumerary seats are available in addition: 5 seats per programme at Bengaluru, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Raebareli; 3 seats per programme at all other campuses.
Programme-wise Total Seats in NIFT 2026
Fashion Design is the largest programme in NIFT 2026 with 801 seats spread across all 20 campuses. NIFT 2026 offers 7 B.Des specialisations, 1 B.FTech programme and 3 Master programmes. At the other end, Master of Fashion Technology (M.FTech) has just 68 seats at 2 campuses and Fashion Interior (FI) — a newer B.Des specialisation — has 82 seats at 2 campuses only.
| Programme | Level | All-India Seats | State Domicile Seats | Total Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion Design (FD) | B.Des | 712 | 89 | 801 |
| Fashion Communication (FC) | B.Des | 644 | 75 | 719 |
| Master of Fashion Management (MFM) | Master | 644 | 75 | 719 |
| Textile Design (TD) | B.Des | 606 | 75 | 681 |
| Accessory Design (AD) | B.Des | 576 | 61 | 637 |
| Apparel Production (AP) | B.FTech | 542 | 49 | 591 |
| Knitwear Design (KD) | B.Des | 330 | 21 | 351 |
| Master of Design (M.Des) | Master | 254 | 21 | 275 |
| Leather Design (LD) | B.Des | 152 | 0 | 152 |
| Fashion Interior (FI) | B.Des | 68 | 14 | 82 |
| Master of Fashion Technology (M.FTech) | Master | 68 | 0 | 68 |
Institutes with Maximum Round 2 Openings
The exact Round 2 vacant seat list is visible on the official portal during the July 3 to July 5 choice filling window. Based on 2025 counselling trends, the following campus types consistently carry more seats into Round 2 because students tend to place metro campuses at the top of their preference lists.
| Category | Campuses (Expected Higher Vacancies) | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| New campus (added 2026) | NIFT Nava Raipur | Debut year; lower recognition among first-choice applicants |
| Geographically remote campuses | NIFT Kangra, NIFT Shillong, NIFT Srinagar | Location preference pushes these campuses lower in student choice lists |
| Smallest intake campuses | NIFT Daman, NIFT Varanasi | 102 All-India seats each; fewer programmes compared to larger campuses |
| Mid-tier established campuses | NIFT Patna, NIFT Bhubaneswar, NIFT Jodhpur | Fewer programmes than metro campuses; moderate Round 1 fill rates based on 2025 trends |
Metro campuses — New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad — typically fill up entirely in Round 1. Any Round 2 openings at these campuses depend on the number of Round 1 allottees who reject their seat. Students should not rely on metro campus vacancies when planning their Round 2 preferences.
Programmes with Maximum Round 2 Openings
Programmes offered at fewer campuses or with a more niche appeal tend to carry more seats into Round 2. The table below shows expected Round 2 availability based on 2025 NIFT counselling trends.
| Programme | Total Seats 2026 | Campuses Offering It | Expected Round 2 Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion Interior (FI) | 82 | 2 (Nava Raipur, Varanasi) | High — new specialisation at newer campuses |
| Master of Fashion Technology (M.FTech) | 68 | 2 | High — limited campuses, postgraduate niche |
| Leather Design (LD) | 152 | 4 | Moderate to High — limited campus options reduce demand |
| Knitwear Design (KD) | 351 | ~9 | Moderate — mid-range demand; openings likely at smaller campuses |
| Apparel Production (AP) | 591 | ~17 | Low to Moderate — available at most campuses; good demand |
Fashion Design and Fashion Communication at metro campuses are the hardest to access through Round 2 — these seats fill in Round 1 itself. Students targeting these combinations should fill in their choices early in the July 3 to July 5 window and keep backup options at campuses like Kangra, Shillong or Nava Raipur.
How to Check Round 2 Vacant Seat Matrix on Official Portal
Follow these steps to view the Round 2 available seat list and submit modified preferences on the official NIFT admissions portal.
- Visit nift.admissions.nic.in and log in using your application number and password.
- Open the Round 2 Choice Filling section in your student dashboard.
- Click View Available Seats to see the full campus and programme-wise vacant seat list.
- Add or reorder campus-programme combinations based on the seats currently open.
- Lock your final preferences before July 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
- Return on July 7, 2026 to check your Round 2 seat allotment result.
- If allotted a seat, complete admission fee payment by July 9, 2026 to confirm the seat.
Students who chose "freeze" in Round 1 cannot access the Round 2 modification window. Only "slide" and "float" option holders may change their preferences. If you chose freeze and want to verify your allotment status, log in and check the allotment letter under your dashboard.
NIFT 2026 Round 2 Vacant Seats FAQs
Ques. When will NIFT 2026 Round 2 vacant seats be released?
Ans. Students can view the Round 2 vacant seat matrix on nift.admissions.nic.in during the choice filling window from July 3 to July 5, 2026. The Round 2 seat allotment result is announced on July 7, 2026.
Ques. Which NIFT campus has the highest number of seats in 2026?
Ans. NIFT New Delhi has the highest seat intake in 2026 with 376 All-India seats, followed by NIFT Chennai with 338 seats. NIFT Bengaluru, Kolkata and Mumbai each have 304 All-India seats.
Ques. Which NIFT campuses are most likely to have vacancies in Round 2?
Ans. Based on 2025 counselling trends, NIFT Nava Raipur (new campus in 2026), NIFT Kangra, NIFT Shillong, NIFT Srinagar, NIFT Daman and NIFT Varanasi are expected to have more seats available in Round 2 compared to metro campuses. These locations receive fewer first-choice applications from students.
Ques. Which NIFT programmes are most likely to have Round 2 openings?
Ans. Fashion Interior (82 total seats at 2 campuses), Master of Fashion Technology (68 seats at 2 campuses) and Leather Design (152 seats at 4 campuses) are most likely to carry seats into Round 2 based on historical trends. Popular programmes like Fashion Design at metro campuses typically fill in Round 1 itself.
Ques. How many total seats does NIFT offer in 2026?
Ans. NIFT 2026 has 5,076 total seats: 4,596 All-India seats and 480 State Domicile seats distributed across 20 campuses and 11 programmes. NIFT Nava Raipur is the newest campus added to the list for 2026.
Ques. What is the difference between slide, float and freeze in NIFT 2026 counselling?
Ans. In NIFT 2026 counselling, freeze means you accept your current allotment and do not want any further changes. Slide means you want to upgrade to the same programme at a higher-preference campus. Float means you want an upgrade to any higher-preference campus or programme combination from your original list. Only slide and float holders can modify choices in Round 2.
Comments