March Madness 2026: When It Starts, Full Schedule, Locations, and Top Contenders
The most exciting three weeks in American sports is almost here. The 2026 NCAA March Madness Men's Basketball Tournament runs from March 15 through April 6, 2026. Conference tournaments are already underway this week, Selection Sunday is two weeks away, and the race for at-large bids is entering its most critical stage. Here is everything you need to know.
When Does March Madness 2026 Start?
The 68-team bracket will be announced on Selection Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 15 on CBS. Games start with the First Four on Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18. The First Four takes place at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio — eight teams playing for the final spots in the 64-team bracket. The main tournament's Round of 64 then tips off Thursday, March 19 — the single greatest day on the American sports calendar.
Full March Madness 2026 Schedule
Selection Sunday is March 15 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS. The First Four runs March 17–18. First Round is March 19–20. Second Round is March 21–22. Sweet 16 is March 26–27. Elite Eight is March 28–29. The Final Four is April 4 and 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with the National Championship Game at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday, April 6 on TBS.
| Round | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | March 15, 6 p.m. ET | CBS |
| First Four | March 17–18 | Dayton, Ohio |
| First Round | March 19–20 | 8 cities |
| Second Round | March 21–22 | 8 cities |
| Sweet 16 | March 26–27 | Houston, San Jose, Chicago, DC |
| Elite Eight | March 28–29 | Houston, San Jose, Chicago, DC |
| Final Four | April 4 | Indianapolis |
| Championship | April 6 | Indianapolis |
First and Second Round Locations for March Madness 2026
The cities hosting first and second round games are Buffalo, New York; Greenville, South Carolina; Oklahoma City; Portland; Tampa; Philadelphia; San Diego; and St. Louis. Regional sites for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight are Houston for the South region, San Jose for the West, Chicago for the Midwest, and Washington DC for the East.
Where to Watch March Madness 2026
CBS Sports and TNT Sports have US television rights to the tournament. First and Second Round games air on CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV. HBO Max streams TBS, TNT, and TruTV games on its ad-free tiers. TBS televises the 2026 Final Four and National Championship Game. In November 2025, TNT Sports and ESPN announced an agreement to allow ESPN's Dick Vitale to call First Four games on TruTV alongside Charles Barkley.
Top March Madness 2026 Contenders Right Now
Strong national championship contenders for the 2026 NCAA Tournament include Duke led by Cameron Boozer, Arizona led by Brayden Burries, Michigan led by Yaxel Lendeborg, Iowa State led by Milan Momcilovic, Connecticut led by Solo Ball, Houston led by Kingston Fleming, and Illinois led by Keaton Wagler. Reigning national champion Florida has also re-entered the mix with recent wins over Alabama and Kentucky.
Conference Tournaments Begin This Week — Automatic Bids Up for Grabs
Conference tournaments begin as early as March 4, and every conference tournament champion earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament regardless of regular season record. The Selection Committee will extend 31 automatic bids to conference tournament champions and 37 at-large bids to the strongest remaining teams, seeding all 68 teams from 1 to 68. Selection Sunday — March 15 on CBS — is when the full bracket drops and March Madness truly begins.
