The pinnacle of NCAA Division 1 Men’s College Basketball is the annual March Madness tournament when fans from around the world tune in to watch the top of the collegiate sports world battle it out on the court. The NCAA has released the full 2026 schedule of tournament games, including locations for each round and upcoming match between two of men’s basketballs best D1 teams. So grab your blank bracket and start your predictions, then come back here for updated standings as the tournament unfolds.
Find the full 2026 March Madness Tournament schedule below along with standings as each round is played. For detailed matchups of each round, click here.
Full Schedule of March Madness Bracket Rounds – Key Dates
GettyA detail view of NCAA March Madness and Wilson logos prior to the game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the USC Trojans at Galen Center on January 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
The 2026 NCAA March Madness Men’s Basketball Tournament will run from March 15, 2026 through April 6, 2026. Here is a quick look at key dates in the tournament with an expanded schedule including game locations and details of each round of the competition found below. Men’s NCAA College Basketball Conference Tournaments with information on each conference round can be found here.
- Selection Sunday – 3/15
- First Four – 3/17 & 3/ 18
- First Round – 3/19 & 3/20
- Second Round – 3/21 & 3/22
- Sweet 16 – 3/26 & 3/27
- Elite Eight – 3/28 & 3/29
- Final Four – 4/4
- NCAA Championship Game – 4/6
Expanded Schedule of March Madness Bracket Rounds & Locations
GettyA detailed view of the March Madness logo on a basketball in the game between the UCLA Bruins and the Tennessee Volunteers in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Rupp Arena on March 22, 2025 in Lexington, Kentucky.
Selection Sunday – March 15, 2026
First Four – March 17 & 18, 2026
- Location: Dayton, OH (UD Arena)
- Host: University of Dayton
First Round – March 19 & 20, 2026
- 3/19 Location: Buffalo, NY (KeyBank Center)
- 3/19 Location: Greenville, SC (Bon Secours Wellness Arena)
- 3/19 Location: Oklahoma City, OK (Paycom Center)
- 3/19 Location: Portland, OR (Moda Center)
- 3/20 Location: Tampa, FL (Benchmark International Arena)
- 3/20 Location: Philadelphia, PA (Xfinity Mobile Arena)
- 3/20 Location: San Diego, CA (Viejas Arena)
- 3/20 Location: St. Louis, MO (Enterprise Center)
Second Round – March 21 & 22, 2026
- 3/21 Location: Buffalo, NY (KeyBank Center)
- 3/21 Location: Greenville, SC (Bon Secours Wellness Arena)
- 3/21 Location: Oklahoma City, OK (Paycom Center)
- 3/21 Location: Portland, OR (Moda Center)
- 3/22 Location: Tampa, FL (Benchmark International Arena)
- 3/22 Location: Philadelphia, PA (Xfinity Mobile Arena)
- 3/22 Location: San Diego, CA (Viejas Arena)
- 3/22 Location: St. Louis, MO (Enterprise Center)
Sweet 16 – March 26 & 27, 2026
South Regional
- Date: March 26, 2026
- Location: Houston, TX (Toyota Center)
- Host: Rice University
West Regional
- Date: March 26, 2026
- Location: San Jose, CA (SAP Center)
- Host: San Jose State University
Midwest Regional
- Date: March 27, 2026
- Location: Chicago, IL (United Center)
- Host: Northwestern University
East Regional
- Date: March 27, 2026
- Location: Washington, D.C. (Capital One Arena)
- Host: Georgetown University
Elite Eight – March 28 & 29, 2026
South Regional
- Date: March 28, 2026
- Location: Houston, TX (Toyota Center)
- Host: Rice University
West Regional
- Date: March 28, 2026
- Location: San Jose, CA (SAP Center)
- Host: San Jose State University
Midwest Regional
- Date: March 29, 2026
- Location: Chicago, IL (United Center)
- Host: Northwestern University
East Regional
- Date: March 29, 2026
- Location: Washington, D.C. (Capital One Arena)
- Host: Georgetown University
Final Four – April 4, 2026
- Location: Indianapolis, IN (Lucas Oil Stadium)
- Hosts: Horizon League, IU Indianapolis
NCAA Championship Game – April 6, 2026
- Location: Indianapolis, IN (Lucas Oil Stadium)
- Hosts: Horizon League, IU Indianapolis
NCAA March Madness Full Tournament Schedule, Game Locations, & Standings