The 2026 Urology Match: Results From the Society of Academic Urology Applicant Survey

To provide a snapshot of the experiences of applicants during the 2026 Urology Match and identify trends associated with major aspects of the match process.

A voluntary survey of 52 questions was designed and distributed to applicants who submitted rank lists in the 2025-2026 Urology Match by the Society of Academic Urology and American Urological Association, respectively. Survey domains deferred from 2024 to 2025 with new questions mostly about resources used to rank programs. Applicant responses were summarized using descriptive analyses, and common themes were identified from free-text responses.

Three hundred ninety-eight applicants completed at least 1 survey question corresponding to a 72.4% response rate. Applicants reported high levels of research productivity (mean 6.4 projects) and visiting sub-internships. Preference signaling was strongly associated with interview offers, with applicants receiving more interviews from signaled (13 interviews) than non-signaled programs (1.3 interviews). Over the past three application cycles, the mean number of applications submitted decreased significantly (67 in 2024 to 44.1 in 2026,) while interview offers remained stable (14.2 to 14.0). Interview day experience was the most influential factor when making final rank lists. Early notification for unmatched applicants was viewed favorably. Though most interviews were in-person, applicants preferred hybrid interview format.

Last 3 years, the number of applications submitted has continued to decline with the impact of preference signaling. Continued evaluation of applicant experiences is necessary to determine if the match dynamics have reached a new equilibrium or if the number of applications will continue to decline.