2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament: Bracket, Schedule and Key Storylines

The 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament is set to grab place at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, from March 10–14, 2026 . The tournament will feature 15 teams competing for the conference championship and an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Bracket and Schedule

The bracket is finalized, with Duke earning the No. 1 seed after completing the regular season with a 16-1 conference record and a 28-2 overall record . Virginia (14-3 ACC, 26-4 overall), Miami (13-4 ACC, 24-6 overall), and North Carolina (12-5 ACC, 24-6 overall) round out the top four seeds .

Here’s a breakdown of the tournament schedule:

First Round – Tuesday, March 10

• Game 1: No. 10 Stanford vs. No. 15 Pittsburgh | 2:00 PM ET on ACC Network
• Game 2: No. 11 SMU vs. No. 14 Syracuse | 4:30 PM ET on ACC Network
• Game 3: No. 12 Virginia Tech vs. No. 13 Wake Forest | 7:00 PM ET on ACC Network

Second Round – Wednesday, March 11

• Game 4: No. 7 NC State vs. Game 1 Winner | 12:00 PM ET on ESPN
• Game 5: No. 6 Louisville vs. Game 2 Winner | 2:30 PM ET on ESPN
• Game 6: No. 8 Florida State vs. No. 9 California | 7:00 PM ET on ESPN2/ESPNU
• Game 7: No. 5 Clemson vs. Game 3 Winner | 9:30 PM ET on ESPN2/ESPNU

Quarterfinals – Thursday, March 12

• Game 8: No. 2 Virginia vs. Game 4 Winner | 12:00 PM ET on ESPN/ESPN2
• Game 9: No. 3 Miami vs. Game 5 Winner | 2:30 PM ET on ESPN/ESPN2
• Game 10: No. 1 Duke vs. Game 6 Winner | 7:00 PM ET on ESPN/ESPN2
• Game 11: No. 4 North Carolina vs. Game 7 Winner | 9:30 PM ET on ESPN/ESPN2

Semifinals – Friday, March 13

• Game 12: Game 8 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner | 7:00 PM ET on ESPN/ESPN2
• Game 13: Game 10 Winner vs. Game 11 Winner | 9:30 PM ET on ESPN/ESPN2

Championship Game – Saturday, March 14

• Game 14: Game 12 Winner vs. Game 13 Winner | 8:30 PM ET on ESPN

Bubble Teams and Tournament Implications

Several teams are on the NCAA Tournament bubble and will be looking to develop a strong showing in Charlotte. NC State, California, Stanford, and SMU are among those with the most to play for . A deep run in the ACC Tournament could secure a bid for these programs, while an early exit could leave them on the outside looking in.

Key Storylines

Duke, as the No. 1 seed, will be aiming for back-to-back conference tournament titles, something they haven’t achieved since winning three consecutive championships from 2009-2011 . The tournament also features notable turnarounds by Virginia and Miami under their first-year coaches, adding another layer of intrigue.

The 2026 ACC Tournament promises to be a thrilling event with high stakes for all involved. The winner will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, while several other teams will be fighting to improve their postseason chances.