When Does March Madness Start? Key Dates You Need to Know
March Madness 2026 is set to ignite college basketball fans’ excitement starting mid-March. Selection Sunday kicks off the spectacle on Sunday, March 15, when the 68-team brackets are revealed. That announcement launches the tournament’s fast-paced, high-stakes action—including the “First Four” play-in games beginning Tuesday, March 17, and the tournament building toward its dramatic championship on Monday, April 6. This article lays out the essential dates and venues you need to follow the madness.
Why These Dates Matter
Selection Sunday is when college basketball fans learn which teams have made the cut for the NCAA Tournament—both men’s and women’s. With the men’s bracket revealed at 6 p.m. ET on CBS and the women’s bracket following at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, it’s the moment the bracket frenzy truly begins.
From there, the First Four games determine the final spots in the full bracket, setting up matchups in the main draw starting just days later. For athletes, coaches, broadcasters, and fans, knowing the timeline is key for planning travel, viewing parties, or filling out brackets.
Key Dates for March Madness 2026
| Event | Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | Sunday, March 15 |
| First Four | Tue–Wed, March 17–18 |
| First Round (Round of 64) | Thu–Fri, March 19–20 |
| Second Round (Round of 32) | Sat–Sun, March 21–22 |
| Sweet 16 | Thu–Fri, March 26–27 |
| Elite Eight | Sat–Sun, March 28–29 |
| Final Four (Semis + Finals) | Saturday & Monday, April 4 & 6 |
Selection Sunday: March 15
This is the official bracket release. The men’s reveal happens at 6 p.m. ET on CBS, while the women’s follows at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
First Four: March 17–18
Eight teams compete in Dayton, Ohio’s UD Arena for the final slots in the main draw.
First and Second Rounds: March 19–22
The bracket opens fully:
– First Round: March 19–20
– Second Round: March 21–22
Games unfold across eight host cities:
Buffalo, Greenville, Oklahoma City, Portland, Tampa, Philadelphia, San Diego, and St. Louis.
Sweet 16 & Elite Eight: March 26–29
Regional semifinals (Sweet 16) and finals (Elite Eight) take place across four regional sites:
– South: Houston
– West: San Jose
– Midwest: Chicago
– East: Washington, D.C.
Final Four and Championship: April 4 & 6
The season culminates at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with the semifinals on Saturday, April 4 and the national championship game on Monday, April 6.
How the Women’s Tournament Fits In
The women’s bracket runs on a parallel but slightly different schedule:
– Selection Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
– 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 and Championship: April 3 (Final Four) and April 5 (Championship) in Phoenix, Arizona.
What to Watch Next
Fans should mark these key moments:
- March 15: Brackets dropped—time to fill yours out.
- March 17–18: First Four play-in games.
- March 19–22: Opening rounds; the bracket begins to sort itself.
- March 26–29: Regional rounds; the field narrows to four.
- April 4 & 6: Final Four and the championship—it all ends here.
Final Notes
March Madness 2026 officially begins with Selection Sunday on March 15. The action ramps immediately with the First Four on March 17–18. What follows is three weeks of intense, win-or-go-home college basketball—first through the opening and regional rounds, and finally through to the Final Four and championship game in Indianapolis on April 4 and 6.
Whether you’re tracking just the men’s bracket or both tournaments, those are the absolute must-know dates to keep on your calendar.
Let the bracket prep begin!
