When Does March Madness Start? 2026 NCAA Tournament Schedule, First Games, Tip Times, and TV Channels

March Madness 2026 has already begun. Selection Sunday landed on March 15, the 68-team bracket is locked, and real games start this Tuesday in Dayton. If you have been wondering when does March Madness start, the answer is two days from right now — and the road to Indianapolis runs all the way through April 6.

When Does March Madness Start: The First Four Tips Tuesday March 17

March Madness games start on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, with the first First Four play-in games. The First Four games conclude on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. When the First Four games are complete, the bracket's final 64 spots will be set.

The First Four is played at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, with eight teams competing for four spots in the opening round. These are not exhibition games — losing teams go home immediately, and winning teams earn just 48 hours to prepare for a No. 1 seed.

First Four Schedule: Tuesday and Wednesday Games in Dayton

The First Four on Tuesday, March 17 features UMBC against Howard at 6:40 p.m. ET on truTV, followed by Texas against NC State at 9:15 p.m. ET. Wednesday, March 18 features Prairie View A&M against Lehigh at 6:40 p.m. ET, and Miami (Ohio) against SMU at 9:15 p.m. ET, also on truTV.

Miami (Ohio) entered the season 31-1 and was one of the most dominant mid-major programs in the country, but the selection committee still required the Redhawks to fight through the First Four before reaching the field of 64.

When Does the First Round of March Madness Start: Thursday March 19

The First Round of the 2026 March Madness bracket runs Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20. The Second Round follows Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22. These four days represent the most concentrated burst of college basketball in the entire sports calendar.

Games on Thursday and Friday will be played simultaneously across eight cities. First and second round host sites include KeyBank Center in Buffalo, Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Moda Center in Portland, Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Viejas Arena in San Diego, and Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

Sweet 16 and Elite Eight Dates and Locations

The Sweet 16 regional semifinals take place Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27. The Elite Eight regional finals follow Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29. Regional host sites are Toyota Center in Houston for the South, SAP Center in San Jose for the West, United Center in Chicago for the Midwest, and Capital One Arena in Washington DC for the East.

Each regional winner earns a trip to Indianapolis. Four teams will survive to the Final Four, and only one will cut down the nets.

When Is the Final Four and National Championship Game in 2026

The men's Final Four takes place Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The national championship game tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday, April 6, 2026, also at Lucas Oil Stadium, on TBS.

Games airing on CBS are also available to Paramount+ subscribers, while TBS, TNT, and truTV games are available via Max. The full tournament is streamable through March Madness Live, covering every game from the First Four through the national championship.

Four No. 1 Seeds in the 2026 March Madness Bracket

Duke, Arizona, Michigan, and Florida hold the four No. 1 seeds across the 2026 March Madness bracket regions. All four enter as heavy favorites to reach the Final Four in Indianapolis.

Notable first round matchups include No. 1 Arizona against No. 16 Long Island University, No. 1 Florida against the Prairie View A&M and Lehigh First Four winner, No. 2 Iowa State against No. 15 Tennessee State, No. 2 UConn against No. 15 Furman, and No. 7 Kentucky against No. 10 Santa Clara. Brackets lock at 12:15 p.m. ET on Thursday — do not miss the deadline.