March Madness has arrived! The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is officially in full swing, and the atmosphere is nothing short of legendary. With Selection Sunday in the rearview and the "First Four" battles in Dayton already fueling Cinderella stories, the road to the championship is set. Don't miss a second of the 67-game sprint to the title from March 17 to April 6—catch all the action live on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV.
2026 Men's March Madness Schedule
The 2026 tournament concludes at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Because games happen simultaneously during the opening rounds, you'll need to juggle multiple channels to keep your bracket alive. Here is the complete rundown of the 2026 Men's schedule:
| Round | Dates | TV Networks |
|---|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | March 15 | CBS |
| First Four | March 17-18 | truTV |
| First Round | March 19-20 | CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV |
| Second Round | March 21-22 | CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV |
| Sweet 16 | March 26-27 | TBS, CBS |
| Elite Eight | March 28-29 | TBS, CBS |
| Final Four | April 4 | TBS |
| Championship Game | April 6 | TBS |
How to Watch: TV and Streaming Channels
Watching the 2026 Men's tournament requires a tag-team approach between Paramount+ (for CBS games) and Sling TV (covering TBS, TNT, and truTV). To catch every high-stakes moment, you'll need access to all four networks. Fortunately for cord-cutters, these high-value streaming options make it easy to ensure you never miss a single buzzer-beater.
Top Streaming Services for the Tournament
- Sling TV: A more budget-friendly option. Sling Blue includes TBS, TNT, and truTV. To get CBS, you'll typically need an antenna or a separate subscription to Paramount+.
- Paramount+ Premium: This is your home for every game that airs on CBS. Note: The "Essential" tier does not include your local live CBS station.
Sling Packages for the 2026 Tournament
Sling remains one of the most flexible ways to watch the tournament without a heavy monthly commitment. You can choose a plan that fits the specific window of the tournament you care about most:
- The Full Tournament Run: 50% off Sling Orange + Blue Combo ($29.99 for the first month). This covers the Turner networks and ESPN for post-game analysis.
- The Opening Weekend Pass: A 3-Day Pass ($9.99) is perfect for the Round of 64 and Round of 32, where the most upsets happen.
- The Clutch Game Pass: A 1-Day Pass ($4.99) is ideal if you just want to catch a specific high-stakes matchup or the National Championship.
The March Madness Live App
The NCAA March Madness Live app is the gold standard for sports apps. It allows Men's tournament fans to watch games on the go, track live stats, and, most importantly, utilize "Fast Break" coverage, which whips around to the most exciting finishes in real-time. While the app is free, you will need to log in with your TV provider credentials to unlock unlimited live streaming.
Pro Tip: If you're watching on a desktop at work, the app usually offers a "Boss Button" that instantly switches your screen to a fake spreadsheet if your supervisor walks by!
Watching Outside the U.S.
If you're traveling abroad during the tournament, you may find your streaming services are geo-blocked. Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) allows you to connect to a U.S. server so you can access your home subscriptions from anywhere in the world. Just ensure you set up and test your VPN before the big games start to avoid any technical fouls.