The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, commonly referred to as March Madness, will commence with its selection event on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The excitement ramps up with the First Four games scheduled for March 17 and 18 in Dayton, Ohio.
Key Dates for the 2026 Tournament
The tournament will feature several crucial dates:
- Selection Sunday: March 15, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET
- First Four: March 17-18, 2026
- First Round: March 19-20, 2026
- Second Round: March 21-22, 2026
- Sweet 16: March 26-27, 2026
- Elite Eight: March 28-29, 2026
- Final Four: April 4-6, 2026
- NCAA Championship Game: April 6, 2026
2026 March Madness Tournament Locations
The tournament will be hosted in various key cities:
| Round | Dates | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Four | March 17-18 | Dayton, OH | UD Arena |
| First/Second | March 19-21 | Buffalo, NY | KeyBank Center |
| First/Second | March 19-21 | Greenville, SC | Bon Secours Wellness Arena |
| First/Second | March 19-21 | Oklahoma City, OK | Paycom Center |
| First/Second | March 19-21 | Portland, OR | Moda Center |
| First/Second | March 20-22 | Tampa, FL | Benchmark International Arena |
| First/Second | March 20-22 | Philadelphia, PA | Xfinity Mobile Arena |
| First/Second | March 20-22 | San Diego, CA | Viejas Arena |
| First/Second | March 20-22 | St. Louis, MO | Enterprise Center |
| South Regional | March 26-28 | Houston, TX | Toyota Center |
| West Regional | March 26-28 | San Jose, CA | SAP Center |
| Midwest Regional | March 27-29 | Chicago, IL | United Center |
| East Regional | March 27-29 | Washington, D.C. | Capital One Arena |
| Final Four | April 4-6 | Indianapolis, IN | Lucas Oil Stadium |
Fans eagerly anticipate the bracket announcements and predicted upsets. Currently, the University of South Florida and universities like Akron and VCU are favored for potential first-round surprises.
Stay tuned for updates on the Men’s Bracket Challenge Game, as teams prepare for an intense and exciting March Madness in 2026.
