NCAA March Madness 2026 men’s: Schedule, results and more

ByDavid Mitchell
NCAA March Madness 2026 men's: Schedule, results and more

Find out everything about March Madness of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Tournament that begins with the First Four on Tuesday, March 17: dates, times and how to watch.

He 2026 NCAA men’s tournament returns in 2026 with 68 teams. The Duke Blue Devils They are the overall No. 1 seed in this year’s NCAA men’s tournament.

The Blue Devilswho lead the Eastern Region, are accompanied in the group of the four best by the Arizona Wildcats in the West, the Michigan Wolverines in the Midwest and the current national champion, the Florida Gatorsin the South.

The Preliminary Round (First Four), at the UD Arena in Dayton, will feature eight teams competing for a spot in the first round on Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18.

The round of 64 begins Thursday, March 19, and the round of 32 begins Saturday, March 21. The host cities for the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament are: Buffalo, New York; Greenville, South Carolina; Oklahoma City; Portland; Tampa; Philadelphia; San Diego; and St. Louis, Missouri.

The regional semifinals (Sweet 16, round of 16) and the finals (Elite Eight, quarterfinals) will be held in Houston (South); San Jose, California (West); Chicago (Midwest); and Washington, DC (East).

He Final Four It will be held on April 4 and 6 in Indianapolis. The national semifinals will take place on April 4 at 4 pm CDMX / 6 pm ET and 6:30 pm CDMX / 8:30 pm ET (TBS). The national final (Championship Game) will be played at 6:30 pm CDMX / 8:30 pm ET (TBS) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Check everything about it 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournamentincluding the dates and venues of the tournament.

NCAA Men’s Tournament: Dates and times

First Four: March 17 and 18

First round (round of 64): March 19

  • KeyBank Center, Buffalo

  • Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville

  • Paycom Center, Oklahoma City

  • Fashion Center, Portland

First round (round of 64): March 20

  • Benchmark International Arena, Tampa

  • Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia

  • Viejas Arena, San Diego

  • Enterprise Center, St. Louis

Second round (round of 32): March 21

  • KeyBank Center, Buffalo

  • Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville

  • Paycom Center, Oklahoma City

  • Fashion Center, Portland

Second round (round of 32): March 22

  • Benchmark International Arena, Tampa

  • Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia

  • Viejas Arena, San Diego

  • Enterprise Center, St. Louis

Sweet 16, round of 16 (regional semifinals): March 26

  • South: Toyota Center, Houston

  • West: SAP Center, San José

Sweet 16, round of 16 (regional semifinals): March 27

  • Midwest: United Center, Chicago

  • East: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

Elite Eight, quarterfinals (regional finals): March 28

  • South: Toyota Center, Houston

  • West: SAP Center, San José

Elite Eight, quarterfinals (regional finals): March 29

  • Midwest: United Center, Chicago

  • East: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

Final Four (national semifinals and national championship):

  • April 4 (6 p.m. ET and 8:30 ET, TBS) April 6 (8:30 ET, TBS)

  • Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.