2026 Women’s March Madness: Schedule, Dates, and Bracket Information
The 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, commonly known as March Madness, is set to begin on Wednesday, March 18, following Selection Sunday on March 15. The tournament will culminate with the NCAA championship game on Sunday, April 5.
Key Dates for the 2026 Tournament
- Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 15, 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: Friday, April 3, at 7 p.m. ET (second semifinal to follow)
- NCAA Championship Game: Sunday, April 5, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Regional Locations
The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds will be held at the following locations:
- Fort Worth, Texas: Dickies Arena (March 27-30)
- Sacramento, Calif.: Golden 1 Center (March 27-30)
Tournament Format
The 2026 tournament will feature 68 teams. The top 16 seeds will host the first and second rounds, as well as the First Four games. The First Four will involve the last four at-large teams, seeded 65 through 68, competing for a place in the main bracket.
Final Four and Championship
Both the Final Four and the NCAA Championship game will be hosted at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Future Final Four Sites
Here are the future sites and dates for the Women’s Final Four:
- 2027: Columbus, Ohio (Nationwide Arena, April 2 & 4)
- 2028: Indianapolis, Indiana (Gainbridge Fieldhouse, March 31 & April 2)
- 2029: San Antonio, Texas (Alamodome, March 30 & April 1)
- 2030: Portland, Oregon (Moda Center, April 5 & 7)
Past Champions
UConn won the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship, defeating South Carolina 82-59. South Carolina won the championship in 2024, defeating Iowa 87-75.
Where to Find Brackets and Schedules
Worth a look