The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (March Madness) is heating up as the 2025-26 season rolls on, with top teams like Michigan, Arizona, Vanderbilt, UConn, and Duke dominating early futures odds. We have a printable blank 2026 March Madness bracket for you to help follow the action. We have a free fillable NCAA Tournament template for you as well. Maybe this is the year you are the one to get a perfect bracket.
This fillable PDF template lets you predict winners from the First Four through the National Championship. Print multiple copies for pools, or fill digitally. We’ve included a tiebreaker section (total points in the championship game) and space for participant names/scores—ideal for friendly wagers or office competitions.
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
