The 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket was officially announced on Sunday, March 8, 2026. The 64-team field features 23 automatic qualifiers and 41 at-large bids. Regional play begins Saturday, March 14, at campus sites hosted by the No. 1 seeds, including Gannon, Washburn, Walsh, and Nova Southeastern. The tournament culminates with the National Championship game on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
2026 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament Regional Hosts & No. 1 Seeds
Each region is hosted by the top overall seed. All Regional Quarterfinal games tip off on Saturday, March 14.
| Regional | No. 1 Seed (Host) | Location |
| Atlantic | Gannon | Erie, PA |
| Central | Washburn | Topeka, KS |
| East | Daemen | Amherst, NY |
| Midwest | Walsh | North Canton, OH |
| South | Nova Southeastern | Ft. Lauderdale, FL |
| South Central | Dallas Baptist | Dallas, TX |
| Southeast | Anderson (SC) | Anderson, SC |
| West | Cal State East Bay | Hayward, CA |
Printable 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament Bracket
Here’s the printable 2026 NCAA DII Men’s basketball Tournament Bracket. The updated one is posted here by the NCAA.
The 2026 NCAA DII Men’s Basketball Tournament Format
The DII championship features 64 teams divided into eight geographically oriented regions (Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast, and West). Each region contains eight teams.
The first three rounds (Regionals) are played at campus sites, typically hosted by the No. 1 seed in each region. The eight regional winners then advance to the Elite Eight, which moves to a predetermined neutral site to crown a national champion.
2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule
Mark your calendars for the following key dates as the 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s basketball tournament progresses from campus sites to the national finals:
- Selection Sunday: March 8
- Regional Quarterfinals: Saturday, March 14
- Regional Semifinals: Sunday, March 15
- Regional Finals: Tuesday, March 17
- Elite Eight (Quarterfinals): Wednesday, March 25 (Pittsburgh, PA)
- National Semifinals: Friday, March 27 (Pittsburgh, PA)
- National Championship: Sunday, April 5 (Indianapolis, IN)
Regional Round 1 Schedules (Saturday, March 14)
Note: Times are typically announced by the host institutions on Monday morning.
Atlantic Regional (Gannon University)
- #1 Gannon vs. #8 Charleston (WV)
- #4 California (PA) vs. #5 Fayetteville State
- #2 West Liberty vs. #7 Virginia Union
- #3 Fairmont State vs. #6 Indiana (PA)
South Regional (Nova Southeastern)
- #1 Nova Southeastern vs. #8 Morehouse
- #4 Palm Beach Atlantic vs. #5 Florida Southern
- #2 West Florida vs. #7 Montevallo
- #3 West Alabama vs. #6 Alabama-Huntsville
Southeast Regional (Anderson University)
- #1 Anderson (SC) vs. #8 Young Harris
- #4 Lenoir-Rhyne vs. #5 North Georgia
- #2 Lander vs. #7 Lincoln Memorial
- #3 Catawba vs. #6 Columbus State
2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship Locations
The 2026 tournament concludes with a split-site finale. The Quarterfinals and Semifinals will be held at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, PA.
In a special showcase, the DII National Championship game will be played on Sunday, April 5, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. This coincides with the DI Final Four weekend, giving DII athletes the biggest possible stage for the title game.
Resources for Your Bracket
At SportsBrackets.net, we have you covered for the entire tournament:
- AI Predictions: Check out our 2026 DI AI Model Projections article.
- March Madness Portal: All things related to March Madness for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is the 2026 NCAA DII Selection Show?
The selection show will air Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 11 p.m. ET. You can stream the announcement live exclusively on NCAA.com.
How many teams make the DII tournament?
The field consists of 64 teams. Unlike DI, which has 68 teams and the “First Four” play-in games, the DII tournament begins immediately with a clean 64-team bracket.
How are the regions determined?
The tournament is divided into eight regions (Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast, and West). Each region has eight teams. To minimize travel, teams generally stay within their geographic region for the first three rounds.
Where are the early rounds played?
The first three rounds (Regionals) are played at campus sites. The No. 1 seed in each of the eight regions typically earns the right to host their entire regional bracket.
What is the “Elite Eight” format?
In Division II, the winners of the eight regional tournaments all advance to a single neutral site—the Elite Eight. This year, the Quarterfinals and Semifinals will be held at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, PA, from March 25–27.
When and where is the National Championship game?
The 2026 National Championship game is on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. It is part of a massive weekend in Indy that also features the DI Final Four and the DIII Championship.
