Get ready for the tournament with our free, printable blank 2026 March Madness bracket. This fillable PDF template is designed for office pools, home parties, and personal tracking. The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament begins with the First Four on March 17-18, followed by the first round on March 19. Download your high-resolution 64-team bracket below to start your predictions before Selection Sunday.
Download Your 2026 March Madness Printable Bracket (PDF & Image)
Whether you prefer a traditional paper bracket or a digital fillable version, our 2026 template is optimized for standard 8.5″ x 11″ printing. This year’s road to the Final Four in San Antonio is wide open, making a blank bracket essential for tracking the inevitable upsets in the early rounds.
Bracket Features:
- Full 64-Team Layout: Includes all regions (East, West, South, Midwest).
- Fillable PDF Format: Type directly into the fields or print and use a pen.
- Selection Sunday Ready: Updated with 2026 dates and location info.
- Mobile Friendly: Clear resolution for viewing on phones and tablets.
Expert Note from the Sports Brackets Analyst: When filling out a blank bracket before the seeds are set, I always look at ‘Conference Tournament Momentum.’ Teams coming out of the Big Ten or SEC often have the depth to survive the first weekend. If you are running a pool, remember that 2026 rules favor ‘Seed-Plus-Round’ scoring to reward those who pick the #12 vs. #5 upsets correctly!
When Does Selection Sunday Take Place?
The 2026 NCAA Men’s basketball Tournament Selection Sunday is March 15, 2026 (6 p.m. ET on CBS), revealing the 68-team field. The First Four starts March 17-18 in Dayton, OH (UD Arena), with the main bracket tipping off March 19-20. The Final Four and Championship are April 4-6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN (TBS for the title game).
Why Use Our 2026 Blank Bracket?
- Clean, ad-free design – easy to read and print.
- Fillable fields (type in team names/seeds or hand-write).
- Updated with early 2026 futures insights to guide your picks.
Early 2026 March Madness Favorites & Predictions (as of January 2026)
Michigan has surged to the top of odds boards (+390 to win it all), thanks to a hot start and strong play. Arizona (+700) remains a powerhouse contender as the current AP #1. Other notables:
- UConn (+1000) – Defending champs’ pedigree.
- Iowa State (+1000) – Consistent Big 12 threat.
- Duke (+1200), Purdue (+1200) – Blue-blood potential.
- Vanderbilt (+2000–3000) – Rising SEC unbeaten dark horse, climbing polls fast.
Sleepers to watch: Houston, Gonzaga, Illinois. Bubble teams and conference tourneys (late Feb/early March) will shake things up.
2026 NCAA Tournament Key Dates & Locations
- Selection Sunday: March 15, 6 p.m. ET (CBS).
- First Four: March 17-18, Dayton, OH.
- First/Second Rounds: March 19-22 (sites: Buffalo, Greenville SC, Oklahoma City, Portland, Tampa, Philadelphia, San Diego, St. something—check updates).
- Sweet 16/Elite Eight: March 26-29.
- Final Four: April 4, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis.
- Championship: April 6, 8:30 p.m. ET (TBS).
TV: CBS/TBS/TNT/TruTV for most games.
How to Run a Bracket Pool
- Download and print our free PDF.
- Set entry rules (e.g., $10 buy-in, winner takes pot).
- Use tiebreaker for ties (championship total points).
- Track live via ESPN or NCAA app.
- Have fun—March Madness is all about upsets!
Download Your Free Printable Blank 2026 March Madness Bracket
We have your free printable blank 2026 March Madness Bracket for you below. Image, PDF, and fillable, Excel formats for you to use for your Bracketology and more.
- Download Blank 2026 March Madness Bracket PDF
- Download Fillable 2026 March Madness Bracket (Excel format)
Related Content
- 2026 March Madness Schedule: Dates, Locations, TV, Printable Bracket & Key Info
- Early 2026 March Madness Odds: Favorites, Sleepers & Bracket Predictions
- College Basketball Team and Post-season Conference Schedules
