2026 NCAA March Madness
Full Tournament Schedule, Dates & Locations
Every round from Selection Sunday (March 15) through the National Championship in Indianapolis (April 6). Venues, host cities, and key dates for all 67 games.
2026 NCAA Tournament Schedule
All 2026 Tournament Venues & Host Sites
The 2026 NCAA Tournament spans 14 venues across 13 cities. First and Second Round games take place at eight sites, while the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight are hosted at four regional venues.
Key Dates at a Glance
Host: CBS at 6 PM ET
Host: University of Dayton
Host: Horizon League / IU Indianapolis
Host: Horizon League / IU Indianapolis
Future Final Four Sites
Recent NCAA Tournament Champions
March Madness All-Time Records
How to Watch March Madness 2026
March Madness Terms & Glossary
Frequently Asked Questions
When does March Madness 2026 start?
The 2026 NCAA Tournament begins with Selection Sunday on March 15, 2026, when the 68-team bracket is revealed on CBS at 6 PM ET. Games tip off with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio on March 17-18.
Where is the 2026 Final Four?
The 2026 NCAA Final Four and National Championship Game will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The semifinals are on April 4 and the championship game is on April 6.
How many teams are in March Madness 2026?
68 teams are selected for the NCAA Tournament. Four teams are eliminated in the First Four, leaving 64 teams for the main bracket. The field includes automatic qualifiers from 32 conference tournament champions and 36 at-large bids.
Where are the 2026 March Madness games played?
First and Second Round games are played across 8 host sites: Buffalo, Greenville, Oklahoma City, Portland, Tampa, Philadelphia, San Diego, and St. Louis. Regional rounds are in Houston (South), San Jose (West), Chicago (Midwest), and Washington D.C. (East).
What are the 2026 Sweet 16 and Elite Eight locations?
The 2026 Sweet 16 and Elite Eight regional rounds are at Toyota Center in Houston (South), SAP Center in San Jose (West), United Center in Chicago (Midwest), and Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. (East).
When is Selection Sunday 2026?
Selection Sunday for the 2026 NCAA Tournament is on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The bracket is typically revealed at 6 PM ET on CBS.
What channel is March Madness 2026 on?
March Madness 2026 games air across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. All 67 games are available for streaming via March Madness Live at ncaa.com or the NCAA app.
How does the NCAA Tournament bracket work?
The 68-team field is divided into four regions. After the First Four, 64 teams play single-elimination games through six rounds: First Round (64 to 32), Second Round (32 to 16), Sweet 16 (16 to 8), Elite Eight (8 to 4), Final Four (4 to 2), and the National Championship.
Who won March Madness 2025?
The Florida Gators won the 2025 NCAA Championship, defeating Houston 65-63 in the title game in San Antonio. It was Florida's first national title since 2007.
Has a 16 seed ever beaten a 1 seed in March Madness?
Yes. UMBC became the first 16 seed to defeat a 1 seed in 2018, beating Virginia 74-54. In 2023, Fairleigh Dickinson (16) upset Purdue (1) 63-58, becoming only the second 16 seed to win.
What is the most common upset seed in March Madness?
The 12-vs-5 matchup is the most common upset in March Madness history. No. 12 seeds beat No. 5 seeds roughly 35% of the time, making it the go-to upset pick for bracket pools.
How to stream March Madness 2026 for free?
March Madness Live (ncaa.com/march-madness-live or the free NCAA app) streams every tournament game. CBS games are free; TBS/TNT/truTV games require a cable or streaming TV login after a limited free preview window.
How many games are in the NCAA Tournament?
There are 67 total games: 4 First Four games, 32 First Round, 16 Second Round, 8 Sweet 16, 4 Elite Eight, 2 Final Four semifinals, and 1 Championship Game.
What are the odds of a perfect March Madness bracket?
The odds of picking a perfect bracket are roughly 1 in 9.2 quintillion (9,200,000,000,000,000,000). No one has ever completed a verified perfect bracket through all 63 main-draw games.
What is a Cinderella team in March Madness?
A Cinderella team is a lower-seeded underdog that makes a surprisingly deep tournament run. Famous Cinderellas include No. 11 Loyola Chicago (2018 Final Four), No. 11 George Mason (2006 Final Four), and No. 8 Villanova (1985 champion).
Which school has the most March Madness championships?
UCLA holds the record with 11 NCAA Men's Basketball Championships (1964-65, 1967-73, 1975, 1995). Kentucky is second with 8, and North Carolina is third with 7.
When do March Madness tickets go on sale?
Tournament tickets are available through NCAA.com/tickets. First/Second Round tickets typically go on sale after Selection Sunday. Final Four tickets are available earlier but sell out quickly.
Related Events
Schedule data sourced from NCAA.com. Dates and venues subject to change.