March Madness 2026: Dates, times, and venues for the Men's and Women's NCAA tournaments

Many fans are still unaware of the key dates, times and venues for each tournament. The March Madness 2026 is officially here and we bring you all you need to know so you do not miss out on anything.

For this year, the event promises to be historic, with the Men's Final Four returning to the heart of basketball country in Indianapolis and the Women's Final Four taking center stage in the desert heat of Before the madness can even begin, the field must be set. On Sunday, March 15, the selection committees will reveal the 68 teams for both the men's and women's brackets.

Selection Sunday and venues to watch

Before the madness can even begin, the field must be set. On Sunday, March 15, the selection committees will reveal the 68 teams for both the men's and women's brackets.

• Men's Selection Show: 6:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Women's Selection Show: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Indianapolis (Men's Final Four): The city of Indianapolis will host the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium, providing an electric atmosphere that will hug the crowning champion.

Phoenix (Women's Final Four): After the record-breaking viewership of recent years, the women's game moves to the Footprint Center. Phoenix has become a premier destination for major sporting events, and the desert sun will surely shine on a field that is deeper and more competitive than ever before.

2026 Men's NCAA tournament schedule

This is how the journey to the championship for the men looks like, beginning in Dayton and ending at the massive Lucas Oil Stadium.

• First Four: March 17-18 / UD Arena (Dayton, OH)
• First & Second Rounds: March 19-21 / Greenville, SC; Buffalo, NY; Detroit, MI; Denver, CO
• First & Second Rounds: March 20-22 / Lexington, KY; Raleigh, NC; Oklahoma City, OK; Portland, OR
• Sweet 16 & Elite Eight: March 26-28 / East: Newark, NJ; West: San Francisco, CA
• Sweet 16 & Elite Eight: March 27-29 / South: Houston, TX; Midwest: Chicago, IL
• Final Four: Saturday, April 4 / Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, IN)
• National Championship: Monday, April 6 / Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, IN

2026 Women's NCAA tournament schedule

As said, the women's tournament continues its explosive growth in popularity, utilizing a mix of campuses and neutral hubs before heading to Arizona for the finale.

• First Four: March 18-19 / Top-16 Seed Campus Sites
• First & Second Rounds: March 20-23 / Top-16 Seed Campus Sites
• Sweet 16 & Elite Eight: March 27-30 / Regionals: Spokane, WA; Birmingham, AL
• Final Four: Friday, April 3 / Footprint Center (Phoenix, AZ)
• National Championship: Sunday, April 5 / Footprint Center (Phoenix, AZ)

For those watching from home, the coverage is like this. The men's games will be spread across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, while the women's tournament will be anchored by ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. Streaming will be available via NCAA March Madness Live and the ESPN App.