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The 2026 Residency Match Results: Key Highlights

The National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®) has recently published the Results and Data report for the 2026 Main Residency Match®, shedding light on significant trends and data relevant to residency training in the United States. This annual report, a comprehensive overview, captures critical metrics such as position fill rates, placement rates, and overall match outcomes for both applicants and residency programs.

A Record Year for Fill Rates

The highlights from the 2026 report reveal that the overall fill rate for residency positions has reached an impressive 99.3 percent, combining both the Main Residency Match and the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP). This continued upward trend underscores a robust interest in residency training and a responsive match process that adapts to the evolving landscape of healthcare education.

Applicant Engagement and Success Rates

Diving deeper into the applicants' data, the report indicates a consistent success rate among various applicant categories:

• - U.S. MD Seniors: In 2026, there were 20,934 active applicants, showing a growth of 566 since the previous year. The statistics reflect a PGY-1 match rate of 93.5 percent, with an overall placement rate soaring to 97.8 percent. Notably, 73.5 percent of MD seniors matched with one of their top three ranked programs.
• - U.S. DO Seniors: Similar trends are observed in the ever-growing cohort of U.S. DO seniors, with 8,503 active applicants—a 111 increase. Their match rate stood at 93.2 percent and placement rate at 98.5 percent, indicating a small rise from last year.
• - International Medical Graduates (IMGs): While U.S. citizen IMGs comprised 4,210 active applicants—down by 377 from 2025—they achieved a successful match rate of 70 percent, with 80 percent of them securing positions in their top preferences. Conversely, non-U.S. citizen IMGs numbered 11,944, up by 479, yet faced slightly lesser outcomes with a PGY-1 match rate of 56.4 percent.

SOAP's Impact on Unmatched Applicants

The SOAP continues to play a pivotal role in providing unmatched candidates opportunities to fill unoccupied positions following the main match. In 2026, the program yielded 2,851 available positions, with a remarkable 2,632 filled, reinforcing the importance of this supplementary approach. The overall fill rate combining both avenues emphasizes the dynamics and responsiveness of the match process.

Noteworthy Trends in the 2026 Match

Several key trends emerged from the 2026 results, illustrating both the opportunities and challenges within the residency landscape:

• - Non-U.S. Citizen IMG Participation: A notable increase of 51.9 percent in participation was recorded among non-U.S. citizen IMGs from 2022 to 2026, highlighting their growing engagement in the match.
• - Couple Participation: A total of 1,258 couples participated in the 2026 Match, with a remarkable 93 percent successfully matching, showcasing the influential role of relationship dynamics in residency placements.
• - Specialty-Specific Outcomes: Family Medicine continues to be a major field, offering 5,491 positions with an impressive adjustment yielding a 98.6 percent fill rate. Psychiatry, demonstrating ongoing expansion, offered 2,516 positions, achieving a commendable fill rate of 97.4 percent.

Enhanced Data Visualization Tools

To complement the report, NRMP has developed an enhanced interactive dashboard that showcases the demographic characteristics of applicants, offering users intuitive access to insights across five consecutive match cycles. This tool not only allows users to track trends but also facilitates deeper analysis by specialty and applicant type, thus enriching the dialogue around residency training outcomes.

Conclusion

The 2026 Main Residency Match results offer hopeful insights into the current state and future of residency training, underscoring the importance of adaptive systems in medical education that can accommodate the increasing number of applicants. These robust statistics and innovative tools pave the way for informed discussions and policies that will shape the trajectory of healthcare training and ultimately, patient care in the U.S.