The 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball season may be drawing to a close, but the real drama is just beginning. March Madness - the ultimate battleground for college hoops supremacy - will soon take center stage, setting the stage for an unforgettable finale.
Spanning three action-packed weeks and covering every corner of the United States, the tournament brings together the finest teams from across the country, all vying for the coveted national championship.
A total of 68 men's and women's teams will enter the win-or-go-home format, where just six victories separate a squad from etching its name into history. From breakout stars to Cinderella stories, from buzzer-beaters to bracket-busting upsets, this tournament delivers the kind of drama that keeps fans glued to their screens.
And with millions attempting to craft the first-ever perfect bracket, the stakes have never been higher.
But just when will all the action take place, and what phases will unfold throughout the event? GOAL brings you all the details to follow the 2026 NCAA March Madness, including the tournament outline, how teams qualify, and what you can expect.
When does the 2026 March Madness Tip Off?
- Men's NCAA Tournament: Tuesday, March 17
- Women's NCAA Tournament: Wednesday, March 18
As the name suggests, March Madness gets underway in March, right after the conference tournaments wrap up and the official bracket is unveiled on Selection Sunday.
That said, some might argue that the madness begins even earlier, as conference tournaments serve as a gateway to the Big Dance. For one-bid leagues, mid-major hopefuls, and even power conference contenders, these tournaments provide the last chance to punch a ticket to the 68-team showdown.
The men's NCAA Tournament tips off on Tuesday, March 17, with the First Four, where eight teams battle for a spot in the main draw. Meanwhile, the women's NCAA Tournament follows suit on Wednesday, March 18, kicking off another thrilling chapter in the road to a national championship.
Selection Sunday date, time
- Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026
- Men's tournament: 6 pm ET (CBS)
- Women's tournament: 8 pm ET (ESPN)
Selection Sunday is the moment when college basketball fans finally discover which men's and women's NCAA Division I teams have secured a spot in the prestigious March Madness tournament, setting the stage for an electrifying chase for the national championship.
This year, Selection Sunday is set for March 15, as confirmed by the NCAA. The highly anticipated bracket reveal happens just two days before the men's tournament tips off and three days ahead of the women's edition, officially marking the start of the madness.
The moment Selection Sunday wraps up on March 15, fans will waste no time furiously filling out their brackets, predicting every twist and turn of the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament. Just two days later, the action gets underway with the First Four, setting the stage for the madness to unfold.
All 68 teams, including those battling through the First Four, will learn their placements across the four regional brackets, mapping out the daunting journey toward the Final Four, where the ultimate quest for college basketball glory reaches its climax.
How to watch 2026 NCAA March Madness
In the United States, coverage of the 2026 NCAA March Madness is due to take place across various channels. CBS is set to broadcast through the Regional Finals, except for the First Four, which will be carried exclusively by TruTV.
TNT will meanwhile cover the First and Second Rounds, while TBS will broadcast from the First and Second Rounds, Regional Finals, Final Four, and championship match.
Below is a breakdown of which channel will show which event by round. Further information on where to stream the 2026 NCAA March Madness tournament can be found here.
2026 NCAA March Madness channels
Round | Channel |
|---|---|
First Four | TruTV |
First and Second Rounds | CBS, TBS, TNT, TruTV |
Regional Semi-finals and Finals | CBS, TBS |
Final Four and Championship | TBS |
Who will compete in the 2026 NCAA March Madness?
68 collegiate teams will compete in the 2026 NCAA March Madness tournament, with 32 teams entering automatically. These berths are given to teams that have won a conference tournament during the collegiate season.
The remaining 36 berths are issued "at-large" by the NCAA Selection Committee. This typically rewards other outstanding teams with a place in the bracket. The Selection Committee subsequently seeds all teams and places them 1 to 68.
Eight teams - the four lowest-ranked sides from both the automatic qualifiers and the teams chosen by the Selection Committee - compete in the preliminary First Four, with the four winners advancing to the main bracket of the tournament.
This is subsequently split into the First and Second Rounds, where teams are drawn on a subregional basis. Winners progress to the Regional Semi-Finals and Finals, known as the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight.
Final winners progress to the Final Four, which forms the National Semi-finals and the National Championship game.
Men's full 2026 March Madness schedule
- Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 15
- First Four: March 17-18
- First round: March 19-20
- Second round: March 21-22
- Sweet 16: March 26-27
- Elite Eight: March 28-29
- Final Four: April 4
- NCAA championship game: April 6
Where will the men's tournament games be played?
| Round Tournament | Dates | Venue | Location | Host School/Conference |
| Selection Sunday | March 15 | National Broadcast | Indianapolis, IN | NCAA Selection Committee |
| First Four | March 17–18 | UD Arena | Dayton, OH | University of Dayton |
| First & Second Rounds | March 19 & 21 | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY | Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference |
| First & Second Rounds | March 19 & 21 | Bon Secours Wellness Arena | Greenville, SC | Furman / Southern Conference |
| First & Second Rounds | March 19 & 21 | Paycom Center | Oklahoma City, OK | Big 12 Conference |
| First & Second Rounds | March 19 & 21 | Moda Center | Portland, OR | Oregon State University |
| First & Second Rounds | March 20 & 22 | Benchmark International Arena | Tampa, FL | University of South Florida |
| First & Second Rounds | March 20 & 22 | Xfinity Mobile Arena | Philadelphia, PA | Saint Joseph's University |
| First & Second Rounds | March 20 & 22 | Viejas Arena | San Diego, CA | San Diego State University |
| First & Second Rounds | March 20 & 22 | Enterprise Center | St. Louis, MO | Missouri Valley Conference |
Women's full 2026 March Madness schedule
- Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 15
- First Four: March 18-19
- First round: March 20-21
- Second round: March 22-23
- Sweet 16: March 27-28
- Elite Eight: March 29-30
- Final Four: Friday, April 3
- Championship: Sunday, April 5
Where will the women's tournament games be played?
First Four, first-round and second-round games will be played at on-campus sites to be determined.
Round | City | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
Sweet 16/Elite Eight | Fort Worth, Texas | Dickies Arena | March 27-30 |
Sweet 16/Elite Eight | Sacramento, California | Golden 1 Center | March 27-30 |
FAQs
Getty ImagesWhat is the NCAA March Madness?
The NCAA March Madness is the informal name given to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's college basketball tournament, which decides the season champion.
The name reportedly has its roots in the Illinois high school basketball scene but has since become synonymous with the bracketed competition played out by college teams as they compete for the top prize at the end of the campaign.
Who are the defending champions ahead of NCAA March Madness?
The Florida Gators pulled off a hard-fought win will live on in the memory of college basketball fans for years after overcoming the Houston Cougars 65-63. Star player Walter Clayton Jr recieved massive praise for coming up huge on the defensive end of the court, while Will Richard carried the way on offense with 18 points.
On the women’s side, the UConn Huskies defeated the defending champion South Carolina Gamecocks to add yet another national title to their historic program. Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong led the way for the Huskies with 24 points each, while future WNBA no. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers contributed 17.