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Selection Sunday just passed and is the anteroom of one the most electrifying events of this year. Taking place on March 15, 2026, this moment marks the official start of the most entertaining weeks in college sports.
Whether you are a lifelong fan of college sports or just a casual viewer looking to find the next big star, understanding the split between networks and streaming platforms is essential to not miss put on anything if you are watching from home. Here is a guide on how to watch every moment of the 2026 Men's and Women's NCAA tournaments, from the opening tip in Dayton to the confetti in Indianapolis and Phoenix.
The 2026 tournament is a dual-track spectacle, kind of. The Men's tournament remains a joint venture between CBS Sports and TNT Sports, while the Women's tournament is the crown jewel of the ESPN family of networks.
Men's Tournament Schedule & Channels
- Selection Sunday: March 15 (6 p.m. ET on CBS)
- First Four: March 17-18 (truTV)
- First and second rounds: March 19-22 (CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV)
- Sweet 16 and Elite eight: March 26-29 (CBS and TBS)
- Final Four: April 4 (TBS)
- National Championship: April 6 (TBS
Women's Tournament Schedule & Channels
- Selection Sunday: March 15 (8 p.m. ET on ESPN)
- First Four: March 18-19 (ESPN Networks)
- First and Second Rounds: March 20-23 (ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and ESPNU)
- Sweet 16 and Elite eight: March 27-30 (ESPN and ABC)
- Final Four: April 3 (ESPN)
- National Championship: April 5 (ABC)
How to stream March Madness without cable
If you do not have the needed things to watch the event on the ordinary TV channels, there are other ways to watch the action. In 2026, the streaming landscape has specialized to make the excitement more accessible than ever.
- Max : At $18.49/month, the B/R Sports Add-on provides live access to every game airing on TBS, TNT, and truTV.
- Paramount+ Premium: At $13.99/month, this tier includes your local CBS station live, covering all CBS-broadcast games.
- Total cost: Roughly $32.48 for total Men's coverage.
For the Women's tournament, ESPN+ and the ESPN App are your primary hubs. A subscription to ESPN Unlimited (approx. $29.99/month) covers the entire women's field across ABC and the ESPN family.
As the brackets go live this Sunday, make sure you have everything ready so you do not miss any of the action.