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March Madness 2026 Dates, TV Schedule, and Odds Revealed
The 2026 NCAA Tournament is set to tip off in March with the First Four, followed by the first round, Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, and national championship game.
Published on Mar. 6, 2026
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The 2026 NCAA Tournament is quickly approaching, with Selection Sunday scheduled for March 15. The tournament will begin with the First Four on March 17-18, followed by the first round on March 19-20, the Sweet 16 on March 26-27, the Elite Eight on March 28-29, the Final Four on April 4, and the national championship game on April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV will broadcast the tournament games, which can also be streamed on NCAA March Madness Live. Duke, Michigan, and Arizona are among the favorites to win the 2026 title, with the defending champion Florida Gators also in the mix.
Why it matters
The NCAA Tournament is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year, with millions of fans tuning in to watch the thrilling action and potential Cinderella runs. The 2026 edition promises to be another exciting tournament, with several powerhouse programs vying for the national championship.
The details
The 2026 NCAA Tournament will feature 68 teams, with 31 automatic bids going to conference champions and 37 at-large bids filling out the rest of the field. The tournament will begin with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, on March 17-18, followed by the first round on March 19-20, the second round on March 21-22, the Sweet 16 on March 26-27, the Elite Eight on March 28-29, the Final Four on April 4, and the national championship game on April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
- The 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed on Selection Sunday, March 15.
- The First Four will take place on March 17-18 in Dayton, Ohio.
- The first round of the tournament will be played on March 19-20.
- The Sweet 16 is scheduled for March 26-27.
- The Elite Eight will be held on March 28-29.
The players
Duke
The Blue Devils are one of the favorites to win the 2026 NCAA Tournament, with odds of +320 according to DraftKings.
Michigan
The Wolverines are also among the top contenders for the 2026 title, with odds of +330.
Arizona
The Wildcats are another team with strong odds of +475 to win the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Florida
The defending champion Gators will be looking to repeat their 2025 title victory.
Houston
The Cougars, who lost to Florida in the 2025 championship game, have odds of +1000 to win it all in 2026.
What’s next
The next major event leading up to the 2026 NCAA Tournament will be the announcement of the tournament field on Selection Sunday, March 15.
The takeaway
The 2026 NCAA Tournament will feature a talented and competitive field, with several teams having a legitimate shot at cutting down the nets in Indianapolis. Fans can look forward to an exciting and unpredictable March Madness filled with thrilling games and potential Cinderella stories.
