When does March Madness 2026 start? Complete tournament schedule and Final Four details

With the calendar flipping to March, college basketball fans are turning their attention to the biggest event in the sport - March Madness 2026.

While conference tournaments are still playing out, the picture for the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament is rapidly coming into focus. Selection Sunday is just weeks away, and championship contenders are separating themselves as the road to Indianapolis begins.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 NCAA Tournament, from dates and locations to top teams and how to watch.

When does March Madness 2026 start?

The official start of March Madness begins with Selection Sunday on March 15, 2026. The 68-team bracket will be revealed at 6 p.m. ET. The action on the court begins two days later: From there, the tournament rolls into the regionals and eventually the Final Four in early April.

Complete March Madness 2026 Schedule

Here is the full NCAA Tournament schedule:

• Selection Sunday: March 15
• First Four: March 17–18
• First Round (Round of 64): March 19–20
• Second Round (Round of 32): March 21–22
• Sweet 16: March 26–27
• Elite Eight: March 28–29
• Final Four: Saturday, April 4
• National Championship Game: Monday, April 6

Where is the 2026 Final Four?

The 2026 Final Four will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It marks the eighth time Indianapolis has hosted the Final Four and the fourth time it will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts (previously 2010, 2015, and 2021). The national semifinals will be played April 4, with the championship game on April 6.

Indianapolis has become one of college basketball’s most trusted host cities, most recently staging the entire 2021 tournament during the COVID-era bubble when Baylor Bears defeated Gonzaga Bulldogs for the title.

2026 NCAA tournament locations

Here are the major tournament sites for 2026:

First Four

• Dayton, OH - UD Arena

First and Second Round sites

• Buffalo, NY - KeyBank Center
• Greenville, SC - Bon Secours Wellness Arena
• Oklahoma City, OK - Paycom Center
• Portland, OR - Moda Center
• Tampa, FL - Benchmark International Arena
• Philadelphia, PA - Xfinity Mobile Arena
• San Diego, CA - Viejas Arena
• St. Louis, MO - Enterprise Center

Regional Sites

• South Regional - Houston, TX (Toyota Center)
• West Regional - San Jose, CA (SAP Center)
• Midwest Regional - Chicago, IL (United Center)
• East Regional - Washington, D.C. (Capital One Arena)

Early Championship contenders to watch

Several powerhouse programs have emerged as strong national title contenders entering March:

• Duke Blue Devils (led by Cameron Boozer)
• Arizona Wildcats (Brayden Burries)
• Michigan Wolverines (Yaxel Lendeborg)
• Iowa State Cyclones (Milan Momcilovic)
• UConn Huskies (Solo Ball)
• Houston Cougars (Kingston Fleming)
• Illinois Fighting Illini (Keaton Wagler)

Reigning national champion Florida Gators has also surged back into contention after recent wins over Alabama and Kentucky.

Of course, March Madness is rarely predictable. Bubble teams across the country are fighting for career-defining wins in their conference tournaments, hoping to move from “on the bubble” to safely in the bracket.

How to watch March Madness 2026

The NCAA Tournament will be widely available across television and streaming platforms globally. In several international markets, (games are streaming for free on DAZN), while U.S. viewers can expect traditional broadcast coverage across NCAA Tournament partner networks.

With the bracket reveal just weeks away, fans can begin preparing printable brackets, tracking projections, and setting up office pools.

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