The Supreme Court will administer the 2026 online Bar examinations starting Sunday, September 6, across 15 testing centers nationwide, deploying strict security protocols, traffic rerouting, and local liquor bans to safeguard the three-day tests. According to the Supreme Court, a total of 13,441 law graduates had been registered and qualified to take the examinations as of August 19, 2026. The exams will also be administered on September 9 and September 13.
## Testing Centers and National Headquarters
San Beda College Alabang serves as the National Headquarters for the 2026 examinations while also operating as a testing venue. According to the Supreme Court, the National Capital Region hosts testing centers at Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in Makati City, Manila Adventist College in Pasay City, New Era University in Quezon City, San Beda University and the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, and the University of the Philippines Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.
Luzon regional testing sites include Cagayan State University in Tuguegarao City, Saint Louis University in Baguio City, and the University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City. Visayas examinees will report to Central Philippine University in Iloilo City, Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation in Tacloban City, and the University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu City. Mindanao testing centers are located at Ateneo de Davao University in Davao City and the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology in Iligan City.
## Examination Schedule and Scope
Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan chairs the 2026 Bar Examinations Committee. The tests cover six core subjects distributed across three examination days.
According to the Supreme Court schedule, Political and Public International Law is set for the morning of September 6, followed by Commercial and Taxation Law in the afternoon. Civil Law and Land Titles and Deeds take place in the morning of September 9, with Labor Law and Social Legislation scheduled for that afternoon. Criminal Law is assigned to the morning of September 13, while Remedial Law and Legal and Judicial Ethics with Practical Exercises conclude the examinations in the afternoon.
Examination questions are drawn exclusively from laws, rules, issuances, and jurisprudence effective as of June 30, 2025.
## Security, Traffic Management, and Local Restrictions
Local governments and law enforcement agencies have established strict regulatory measures surrounding testing venues to prevent disruptions. According to local reports, the Philippine National Police has readied security deployments.
In Iloilo City, traffic management, road closures are set near Central Philippine University to manage congestion. Concurrently, local governments such as Muntinlupa City have enacted localized liquor bans during the examination period to maintain public order.
The 2026 administration follows prior digital exams that saw 5,594 passers out of 11,425 examinees in 2025 under Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, and 3,962 passers out of 10,480 examinees in 2024 under Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez.