13,441 applicants to take 2026 Bar exams—SC

A total of 13,441 applicants have been cleared by the Supreme Court’s Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) to take the 2026 Bar Examinations, marking the highest number of examinees in the history of the Philippine Bar exams. The cleared candidates were selected from an overall pool of 14,291 applicants who registered for this year's examinations.

The 2026 Bar Examinations will take place across three days—September 6, 9, and 13—in 15 testing centers nationwide. The High Tribunal designated San Beda College Alabang in Muntinlupa City to serve as the National Headquarters for the duration of the exams.

Chaired by Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, this year’s licensure tests will evaluate examinees across six core subjects: Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics, with Practical Exercises (25%); Commercial and Taxation Laws (20%); Civil Law and Land Titles and Deeds (20%); Political and Public International Law (15%); Labor Law and Social Legislation (10%); and Criminal Law (10%).

The record-breaking registration follows the 2025 Bar Examinations, which saw 13,193 applicants register and 11,425 complete the three-day exams held on September 7, 10, and 14 under Bar Chairperson Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier. A total of 5,594 examinees passed the 2025 tests out of 11,420 valid takers, yielding a 48.98% passing rate.