Men’s March Madness 2026: Full NCAA Tournament Schedule, Sites & Locations

The 2025–26 men’s college basketball season, which begins on November 3, will conclude with the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament. At the conclusion, a champion will be proclaimed on April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Let’s examine the specifics of how it will occur.

On Selection Sunday (March 15), the 68-team bracket is revealed, marking the start of March Madness 2026.

On Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18, eight teams will compete for a spot in the first round at UD Arena in Dayton.

On Thursday, March 19, the round of 64 starts, and on Saturday, March 21, the round of 32 gets begin. Buffalo, New York; Greenville, South Carolina; Oklahoma City; Portland; Tampa; Philadelphia; San Diego; and St. Louis, Missouri are the cities for the NCAA tournament’s first and second rounds.

Houston (South); San Jose, California (West); Chicago (Midwest); and Washington, D.C. (East) will host the regional semifinals (Sweet 16) and finals (Elite Eight).

Indianapolis will host the Final Four on April 4 and 6.

Below are all of the dates and locations for the 2025 Division I men’s NCAA tournament.

In the meanwhile, for field projections, including those of teams deemed to be on the bubble, bookmark Joe Lunardi’s ESPN Bracketology. Updates to the bracket will occur every Tuesday during the 2025–26 regular season’s nonconference stretch, every Tuesday and Friday during conference play, and more frequently during league tournaments, also known as Champ Week, which takes place before Selection Sunday.

Selection Sunday: March 15

First Four: March 17-18