As the 2025-26 college basketball season heats up, the postseason spotlight will soon turn to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). While March Madness grabs the headlines, the 2026 NIT Bracket delivers exciting basketball with 32 teams battling for a championship and valuable experience. It’s the perfect stage for bubble teams, strong mid-majors, and programs hungry for more games.
We’ll cover the complete 2026 NIT schedule, format, and everything you need to know. For the main event, check out our March Madness schedule page along with our March Madness bracket page and printable March Madness bracket page too.
2026 NIT Format Overview
The NIT is a 32-team single-elimination tournament. Early rounds are played on campus at higher seeds’ home courts, with the semifinals and championship moving to neutral sites in Indianapolis. Automatic bids go to regular-season conference champions who don’t earn NCAA bids, with the rest filled by at-large selections based on metrics like NET rankings.
This setup creates compelling matchups and often features teams just shy of the NCAA field.
2026 NIT Bracket & Schedule: Key Dates
Here is the 2026 NIT Bracket & Schedule. All times are Eastern and subject to change:
- Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 15 – Bracket reveal follows NCAA selections.
- First Round: Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18 – Campus sites.
- Second Round: Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22 – Campus sites.
- Quarterfinals: Tuesday, March 24 and Wednesday, March 25 – Campus sites.
- Semifinals: Thursday, April 2 – Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN.
- Championship: Sunday, April 5 – Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | 8 p.m. ET | ESPN2.
The move to Indianapolis venues for the final rounds gives the NIT a big-stage feel.
Your Blank, Printable 2026 NIT Bracket
We’ve got you covered with a clean, blank printable bracket in both PDF and image formats. These are perfect for filling in teams as the bracket is revealed, making predictions, or running your own office pool.
Download and print your blank NIT bracket here:
- PDF version (ideal for high-quality printing)
- Image version (quick and easy to view/share): See the clear layout below.
Teams to Watch and Bracket Projections
With Selection Sunday still ahead, projections point to a mix of power-conference bubble teams and top mid-majors. Stay tuned for the official field on March 15.
Recent NIT Champions
The NIT has a storied history. Here are the recent
- 2025: Chattanooga
- 2024: Seton Hall
- 2023: North Texas
- 2022: Xavier
- 2021: Memphis
Recent champs show how the tournament rewards grit and can launch programs forward.
The 2026 NIT is set to deliver more memorable moments. Grab your printable bracket, follow along, and enjoy the action. For all things March Madness.
