March Madness 2026: Bracket, Schedule and Key Dates
The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, commonly known as March Madness, is underway. Selection Sunday, where the 68-team bracket was revealed, took place on March 15. The tournament will culminate with the championship game on April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
First Four and Opening Rounds
The First Four games, featuring eight teams vying for a spot in the main bracket, were held at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, on March 17 and 18. The round of 64 began on March 19, with games played across eight host cities: Buffalo, New York; Greenville, South Carolina; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Portland, Oregon; Tampa, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; San Diego, California; and St. Louis, Missouri. The round of 32 followed on March 21 and 22, continuing in those same locations.
Regional Semifinals and Finals
The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games, known as the regional semifinals and finals, will be played in four regional hubs: Houston, Texas (South Region); San Jose, California (West Region); Chicago, Illinois (Midwest Region); and Washington, D.C. (East Region).
Final Four and Championship Game
The Final Four will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 4, with the national championship game scheduled for April 6. Both games will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium and broadcast on TBS. The national semifinal games will begin at 6:00 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET, followed by the championship game at 8:30 p.m. ET.
2026 Tournament Schedule & Locations
- Selection Sunday: March 15
- First Four: March 17-18 (UD Arena, Dayton, OH)
- First Round (Round of 64): March 19-20 (Buffalo, Greenville, Oklahoma City, Portland, Tampa, Philadelphia, San Diego, St. Louis)
- Second Round (Round of 32): March 21-22 (Buffalo, Greenville, Oklahoma City, Portland, Tampa, Philadelphia, San Diego, St. Louis)
- Regional Semifinals (Sweet 16): Houston, San Jose, Chicago, Washington, D.C.
- Regional Finals (Elite Eight): Houston, San Jose, Chicago, Washington, D.C.
- Final Four: April 4 (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN)
- National Championship: April 6 (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN)
Fans can follow the tournament action and access the latest bracket information at NCAA.com and CBS Sports.
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