March Madness Schedule 2026
Complete 2026 NCAA Tournament schedule with dates, tip-off times, and TV channels for every round. From the First Four in Dayton through the National Championship at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Full Tournament Schedule
Selection Sunday
Bracket RevealThe NCAA Selection Committee reveals the 68-team bracket live on CBS. Sportsbooks open first-round lines within minutes.
Selection Sunday Picks →First Four
4 gamesPlay-in games in Dayton, OH. Eight teams compete for the final four spots in the 64-team bracket.
First Round Picks →Round of 64
32 gamesThe main bracket begins. 32 games across 2 days. This is where the most upsets happen — 12-vs-5 upsets occur 35% of the time historically.
First Round Picks →Round of 32
16 gamesCinderella runs either continue or end. Chalk starts to crack as mid-majors face tougher matchups.
Second Round Picks →Sweet 16
8 gamesRegional semifinals. A week of rest between rounds changes the dynamic — coaching adjustments matter more here.
Sweet 16 Picks →Elite 8
4 gamesRegional finals. Four games decide the Final Four. 40%+ decided by 5 points or fewer.
Elite 8 Picks →Final Four
2 gamesNational semifinals at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. Football stadium dimensions can affect shooting percentages.
Final Four Picks →National Championship
1 gameThe title game at the Alamodome. One game for the 2026 NCAA National Championship.
Championship Pick →Where to Watch March Madness 2026
The NCAA Tournament is broadcast across four networks. All games are also available for streaming on the March Madness Live app and NCAA.com.
CBS
Primary network. Selection Sunday bracket reveal, select early-round games, Elite 8 games, and the National Championship on April 6.
TBS
Early-round games, Sweet 16, Elite 8, and the Final Four national semifinal games on April 4.
TNT
Round of 64 and Round of 32 games. Shares early-round coverage with CBS, TBS, and truTV.
truTV
First Four play-in games and select Round of 64 and Round of 32 games.
Key Dates at a Glance
| Round | Dates | Games | Network(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | March 15 | Bracket Reveal | CBS |
| First Four | March 18–19 | 4 games | truTV |
| Round of 64 | March 20–21 | 32 games | CBSTBSTNTtruTV |
| Round of 32 | March 22–23 | 16 games | CBSTBSTNTtruTV |
| Sweet 16 | March 27–28 | 8 games | CBSTBS |
| Elite 8 | March 29–30 | 4 games | CBSTBS |
| Final Four | April 4 | 2 games | TBS |
| National Championship | April 6 | 1 game | CBS |
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