When does March Madness start? Full schedule and key dates for 2026 NCAA tournament

March Madness is fast approaching, with the 2026 NCAA basketball tournaments set to begin in mid-March. While conference tournaments will dominate the early part of the month, the official road to a national championship starts with Selection Sunday, when the full 68-team bracket is revealed.On March 15, 2026, Selection Sunday for the men's tournament will take place. On this day, teams will find out where they will be seeded, where they will play in their area, and how they might go to the Final Four. The bracket show will be broadcast on CBS and streamed online, marking the true beginning of the March Madness frenzy for fans across the country.

Men’s March Madness 2026 schedule

The men’s NCAA Tournament officially tips off with the First Four games in Dayton, Ohio, on March 17-18.

These play-in matchups determine the final teams that advance into the main bracket.

Teams qualify for the NCAA Tournament in two ways. The 31 automatic bids go to the winners of the conference tournaments. The selection committee gives out 37 at-large bids to teams that didn't win their conference but had excellent regular-season recordsThe first round is often considered the start of bracket chaos begins on March 19-20, featuring 32 games across two days.

The action continues quickly, with the second round scheduled for March 21-22, reducing the field to 16 teams.The later stages of the tournament follow a similar timeline. The Sweet 16 will take place on March 26-27, followed by the Elite Eight on March 28-29, where regional champions are decided.

The Final Four is set for April 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with the national championship game scheduled for April 6 at the same venue.

These final matchups will determine the 2026 men’s college basketball champion after nearly three weeks of competition.

Women’s March Madness 2026 schedule

The women’s NCAA Tournament follows a similar structure but begins one day later. The First Four games are scheduled for March 18-19, with first-round action starting on March 20-21.Second-round games were played on March 22-23, leading into the Sweet 16 on March 27-28 and the Elite Eight on March 29-30.

The women’s Final Four is set for April 3, while the national championship game will be played on April 5.Before the official bracket is shown, the NCAA selection committee shows the top 16 teams ahead of time. This gives an idea of how people currently see the contenders. However, results in the final weeks of the regular season and conference tournaments can significantly shift seeding.With bubble teams fighting for at-large bids and top programs aiming for favourable matchups, every game in late February and early March carries added importance.As the countdown continues, March Madness once again promises buzzer-beaters, upsets, and Cinderella stories, the elements that make the NCAA Tournament one of the most anticipated events in sports each year.