Greenville to Host Top Teams in 2026 March Madness South Region

Illinois, North Carolina, and VCU among the squads coming to Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:34pm

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Greenville, South Carolina will host first- and second-round games of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, with the South Region matchups taking place at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The top teams coming to the city include No. 3 seed Illinois, No. 6 North Carolina, and No. 11 VCU.

Why it matters

Greenville has become a popular host city for March Madness, with the city previously welcoming teams that have advanced to the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. This year's South Region matchups will bring high-profile programs and exciting tournament action to the area, driving tourism and interest in the city.

The details

The South Region games in Greenville will feature Illinois facing off against No. 14 Penn in the first round, while North Carolina takes on VCU. The winners of those two games will then meet in the second round on March 21. Greenville is also hosting teams from the East Region, including No. 1 overall seed Duke.

  • The first-round games will be played on March 19, 2026.
  • The second-round games will be played on March 21, 2026.

The players

Illinois

The No. 3 seed in the South Region, Illinois is a perennial NCAA Tournament contender.

Penn

The No. 14 seed in the South Region, Penn is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018.

North Carolina

The No. 6 seed in the South Region, North Carolina is one of college basketball's most storied programs.

VCU

The No. 11 seed in the South Region, VCU is looking to make a deep tournament run after a strong regular season.

Duke

The No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, Duke is the favorite to win the East Region in Greenville.

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What’s next

Game times and TV schedules for the Greenville Regional games are yet to be announced.

The takeaway

Greenville's status as a March Madness host city continues, with the 2026 tournament bringing high-profile programs and exciting tournament action to the area. Fans in the region will have the opportunity to see some of college basketball's top teams compete for a spot in the Sweet 16.