March Madness 2026 Key Dates
March Madness 2026 tips off with Selection Sunday on March 15, when the 68-team bracket is officially revealed.
The tournament opens with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, where eight teams compete for final bracket spots on Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 18.
The Round of 64 begins Thursday, March 19, followed by the Round of 32 on Saturday, March 21. First- and second-round games will be hosted in Buffalo, Greenville (SC), Oklahoma City, Portland, Tampa, Philadelphia, San Diego, and St. Louis.
The tournament then moves to regional play. The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will be held in Houston (South), San Jose (West), Chicago (Midwest), and Washington, D.C. (East).
The championship weekend takes place in Indianapolis, with the Final Four on April 4 and the National Championship game on April 6. Semifinal games tip off at 6:00 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET, with the title game also scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET, all airing on TBS.
Key Dates:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| 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 (Venues below) |
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: April 6 (Venues Below)
2026 March Maddness Venues:
First Four
March 17 and 18
- University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio (Host: University of Dayton)
First and Second Rounds (Subregionals)
March 19 and 21
- KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York (Host: Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)
- Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina (Host: Furman University)
- Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Host: Big 12 Conference)
- Moda Center, Portland, Oregon (Host: Oregon State University)
March 20 and 22
- Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, Florida (Host: University of South Florida)
- Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Host: Saint Joseph’s University)
- Viejas Arena, San Diego, California (Host: San Diego State UniversityEnterprise Center, St.
- Louis, Missouri (Host: Missouri Valley Conference)
Regional Semifinals and Finals (Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight)
March 26 and 28
(South Regional)
- Toyota Center, Houston, Texas (Host: Rice University)
(West Regional)
- SAP Center, San Jose, California (Host: San Jose State University)
March 27 and 29
(Midwest Regional)
- United Center, Chicago, Illinois (Host: Big Ten Conference)
(East Regional)
- Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. (Host: Georgetown University)
National Semifinals and Championship (Final Four)
April 4 and 6
- Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana (Host; Indiana University Indianapolis)
Indianapolis will host the Final Four for the ninth time, having previously hosted in 2021.
