Selection Sunday for the 2026 NCAA March Madness basketball tournaments is scheduled for Sunday, March 15. This key event will reveal the 68-team brackets for both the men’s and women’s Division I basketball tournaments, signaling the official start of the March Madness excitement.
The men’s tournament bracket announcement will air at 6 p.m. Eastern Time on CBS. Later that evening, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN will broadcast the women’s tournament bracket reveal. Fans can tune into these selection shows to see how teams are seeded and matched up for the championships.
Men’s Tournament Key Dates and Locations
The men’s tournament begins with the First Four games on Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 18, at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. The first and second rounds take place from March 19 to 22 across several cities including Buffalo (KeyBank Center), Greenville (Bon Secours Wellness Arena), Oklahoma City (Paycom Center), Portland (Moda Center), Tampa (Benchmark International Arena), Philadelphia (Xfinity Mobile Arena), San Diego (Viejas Arena), and St. Louis (Enterprise Center).
Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds will follow between March 26 and 29. The South Regional will be hosted at Houston’s Toyota Center and the West Regional at San Jose’s SAP Center from March 26 to 28. Chicago’s United Center will hold the Midwest Regional from March 27 to 29, along with the East Regional at Washington D.C.’s Capital One Arena.
The highly anticipated Final Four and NCAA championship game will be staged at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Final Four takes place on Saturday, April 4, and the championship game will be held on Monday, April 6.
Women’s Tournament Key Dates and Locations
For the women’s tournament, the schedule follows closely after the men’s. The First Four are held on Wednesday, March 18, and Thursday, March 19. The first round runs from March 20 to 21, followed by the second round on March 22 and 23.
The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds will be held from March 27 to 30 at two key regional sites: Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. The Final Four and NCAA championship game will take place at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday, April 3, and Sunday, April 5, respectively.
Summary of Important Dates
- Men’s bracket announcement: 6 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 15 (CBS)
- Women’s bracket announcement: 8 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 15 (ESPN)
- Men’s First Four: March 17–18 (Dayton, Ohio)
- Women’s First Four: March 18–19
- Early rounds: March 19–23 (various cities)
- Men’s Sweet 16/Elite Eight: March 26–29
- Women’s Sweet 16/Elite Eight: March 27–30
- Final Four and championship games: Early April at specific venues
This detailed schedule and venue plan ensure comprehensive coverage of the NCAA basketball tournaments for both men’s and women’s competitions. Fans should mark their calendars for March 15 selection reveals and prepare for weeks of thrilling college basketball action across the United States.
Read more at: www.ncaa.com
