The 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament is officially here, and with 67 games spread across nearly three weeks, here is everything fans need to plan around.
A Breakdown Of the 2026 NCAA Tournament Schedule
March Madness tips off Tuesday, March 17, with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, and runs all the way through the national championship game on Monday, April 6, in Indianapolis.
The bracket, featuring No. 1 seeds Duke, Michigan, Arizona, and Florida, was revealed on Selection Sunday, March 15 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.
Bring on the madness! The tip times are set for the First Round on Thursday and Friday. pic.twitter.com/cx0IU80DtR
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 16, 2026
All 67 games will be televised across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, with streaming available on Paramount+ for CBS games and HBO Max for TBS, TNT, and truTV games. The NCAA March Madness Live app will also carry every game.
MARCH MADNESS: Fill In Your Bracket Now!
The lead play-by-play voice for the tournament is Ian Eagle, returning for the third straight year alongside analyst Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, and reporter Tracy Wolfson for marquee matchups.
Schedule:
- First Four: Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 18
- First Round: Thursday, March 19, and Friday, March 20
- Second Round: Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22
- Sweet 16: Thursday, March 26, and Friday, March 27
- Elite Eight: Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29
- Final Four: Saturday, April 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
- National Championship: Monday, April 6, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
Date and Time:
- First Four (Tuesday, March 17): 6:40 p.m. ET and 9:15 p.m. ET
- First Four (Wednesday, March 18): 6:40 p.m. ET and 9:15 p.m. ET
- First Round (Thursday, March 19): Games begin at 12:15 p.m. ET
- First Round (Friday, March 20): Games begin at 12:15 p.m. ET
- Sweet 16 (Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27): Games begin at 7 p.m. ET
- Elite Eight (Saturday, March 28): Games begin at 6 p.m. ET
- Elite Eight (Sunday, March 29): Games begin at 2 p.m. ET
- Final Four (Saturday, April 4): 6 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET
- National Championship (Monday, April 6): 8:30 p.m. ET
TV Channel Details:
- First Four: truTV
- First Round and Second Round: CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV
- Sweet 16 and Elite Eight: CBS and TBS/truTV
- Final Four and National Championship: TBS
CBS will broadcast 21 games, including the Elite Eight, Sweet 16, and rounds of 64 and 32. TBS will televise 21 games, including the national championship, both Final Four semifinals, and games through the Elite Eight.
truTV will air or simulcast 24 games across the tournament, beginning with the First Four. TNT will air or simulcast 15 games throughout the tournament.
First and Second Round Sites:
Buffalo, New York; Greenville, South Carolina; Oklahoma City; Portland, Oregon; Tampa, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; San Diego, California; St. Louis, Missouri
Sweet 16 and Elite Eight Sites:
- South Region: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas (March 26 and 28)
- West Region: SAP Center, San Jose, California (March 26 and 28)
- Midwest Region: United Center, Chicago, Illinois (March 27 and 29)
- East Region: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. (March 27 and 29)
Final Four and National Championship Site: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
