The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament begins with the First Four on March 17-18, 2026, in Dayton, Ohio. The tournament concludes with the Final Four on April 4 and the National Championship game on April 6, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Quick March Madness Facts:
- Selection Sunday: March 15, 2026
- First Round: March 19-20, 2026
- Sweet 16 / Elite Eight: March 26-29, 2026
- Primary Broadcasters: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV.
- Printable Format: Available in PDF and Image formats on this page.
Expert Note from the Sports Brackets Analyst: While the 68-team format remains the standard for 2026, keep an eye on the First Four matchups in Dayton. Historically, at least one team from the First Four has advanced to the Round of 32 in 12 of the last 14 tournaments, making these early games essential for a winning bracket.
The 2026 March Madness Schedule will have all 68 teams selected for the tournament announced during the Selection Sunday broadcast on March 15th, 2026.
Updated February 20, 2026
2026 March Madness Schedule & Key Dates
- Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 15, 2026 (6 PM ET, CBS) – 68-team field announced.
- First Four: Tuesday, March 17 & Wednesday, March 18, 2026 – UD Arena, Dayton, OH (8 lowest seeds play-in).
- First & Second Rounds: Thursday–Sunday, March 19-22, 2026 – Various sites (e.g., Denver, Providence, Raleigh, Milwaukee, etc.; full regional sites include Capital One Arena-Washington DC East, Enterprise Center-St. Louis Midwest, etc.).
- Sweet 16 & Elite Eight: Thursday–Sunday, March 26-29, 2026 – Regional sites (e.g., East: Washington DC; Midwest: St. Louis; South & West TBD in full release).
- Final Four: Saturday, April 4, 2026 – Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN (semifinals).
- National Championship: Monday, April 6, 2026 – Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN (8:30 PM ET, TBS).
March Madness TV & Streaming
All games broadcast on CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV. Stream via March Madness Live app (requires TV provider login) or services like Paramount+, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV. International viewing via NCAA partners.
Printable 2026 March Madness Schedule Overview
Here is the printable 2026 March Madness schedule overview for you.
| Date | Event | Location | TV/Network | Notes |
| March 15, 2026 | Selection Sunday | Studio (CBS) | CBS | 68-team bracket revealed 6 PM ET |
| March 17-18, 2026 | First Four | UD Arena, Dayton, OH | truTV | Play-in games for lowest seeds |
| March 19-22, 2026 | First & Second Rounds | Various regional sites | CBS/TBS/TNT/truTV | 64 teams → 16 |
| March 26-29, 2026 | Sweet 16 & Elite Eight | Regional sites | CBS/TBS/TNT/truTV | Final 8 → Final 4 |
| April 4, 2026 | Final Four | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN | TBS | Semifinals |
| April 6, 2026 | National Championship | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN | TBS | Champion crowned ~8:30 PM ET |
2026 March Madness First Four Schedule
| Round | Dates | City | Venue | Host(s) |
| First Four | March 17-18 | Dayton, OH | UD Arena | University of Dayton |
2026 March Madness First and Second Round Schedule
Some great locations for the opening rounds of the 2026 NCAA Men’s basketball tournament.
| First/Second | March 19-21 | Buffalo, NY | KeyBank Center | Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceCanisius CollegeNiagara University |
| First/Second | March 19-21 | Greenville, SC | Bon SecoursWellness Arena | FurmanSouthern Conference |
| First/Second | March 20-22 | Tampa, FL | Amalie Arena | University of South Florida |
| First/Second | March 19-21 | Oklahoma City, OK | Paycom Center | Big 12 Conference |
| First/Second | March 20-22 | Philadelphia, PA | Wells Fargo Center | Saint Joseph’s University |
| First/Second | March 19-21 | Portland, OR | Moda Center | Oregon State University |
| First/Second | March 20-22 | San Diego, CA | Viejas Arena | San Diego State University |
| First/Second | March 20-22 | St. Louis, MO | Enterprise Center | Missouri Valley Conference |
2026 Sweet 16 and Elite 8 Schedule
| Round | Dates | City | Venue | Host(s) |
| MidwestRegional | March 27-29 | Chicago, IL | United Center | Northwestern University |
| SouthRegional | March 26-28 | Houston, TX | Toyota Center | University of Houston |
| WestRegional | March 26-28 | San Jose, CA | SAP Center | San Jose State University |
| EastRegional | March 27-29 | Washington, D.C. | Capital One Arena | Georgetown University |
2026 Final Four and Championship Game Schedule
I tell you what. The good folks of Indianapolis definitely get spoiled at times in March Madness season! 2026 will be the fourth time since 2010 that the Men’s Final Four is held at the stadium. The great location is also on tap to host the 2029 Men’s Final Four. The Horizon League and IUPUI are the hosts for the 2026 Final Four.
| Round | Dates | City | Venue | Host(s) |
| Final Four/ Championship | April 4 & 6 | Indianapolis | Lucas Oil Stadium | Horizon League, IUPUI |
Why 2026 March Madness Matters Early
Conference tournaments (late Feb/early March) determine auto-bids; at-large teams battle for spots. Watch bubble teams, upsets, and conference races. Lucas Oil Stadium hosts for the 4th time (previously 2010, 2014, 2021)- expanded capacity for massive crowds.
Printable 2026 March Madness Bracket
If you are looking for a printable 2026 March Madness Bracket, we have you covered. You can download or print it to PDF format here. We always find it easier to use a printable version of the bracket to work on bracketology leading up to March.
Looking Ahead to 2027 – Selection Sunday March 14, championship April 5 at Ford Field, Detroit. Bookmark for updates closer to season.
