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Each year, the NCAA men's basketball tournament, known as March Madness, captures the attention of millions of fans around the world. With college teams battling for glory, the tournament offers a unique mix of excitement, surprises, and historic moments. From the early rounds to the final play of the championship, March Madness is one of the most anticipated and watched sporting events of the year.
With a structure full of unpredictable matchups and a single-elimination format, anything can happen, and 2026 will be no exception. Get ready to experience a tournament filled with action, rivalries, and drama!
Men's March Madness 2026 Schedule
Here's the complete schedule for the NCAA Tournament:
- Selection Sunday: March 15
- First Four: March 17-18
- First round: March 19-20
- Second round: March 21-22
- Sweet 16: March 26-27
- Elite Eight: March 28-29
- Final Four: April 4
- NCAA championship game: April 6
Tournament Locations and Hosts
The 2026 men's tournament will take place across various venues, each hosted by top universities and organizations.
The First Four will be played in Dayton, Ohio. The first and second rounds are in Buffalo, NY; Greenville, SC; Oklahoma City, OK; Portland, OR; Tampa, FL; Philadelphia, PA; San Diego, CA; and St. Louis, MO.
The regional semifinals (Sweet 16) and finals (Elite Eight) will take place in Washington, D.C. (East Region); Houston, TX (South); Chicago, IL (Midwest); and San Jose, CA (West). The tournament ends with the Final Four and championship game at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Men's March Madness Bracket 2026
First Four
Tuesday, March 17
- No. 16 UMBC 83 - 86 No. 16 Howard
- No. 11 Texas vs.68 - 66 11 NC State
Wednesday, March 18
- No. 16 Prairie View A&M 67 - 55 No. 16
- No. 11 Miami (Ohio) 89 - 79 No. 11 SMU
First Round
Thursday, March 19
- No. 8 Ohio State 64 - 66 No. 9 TCU
- No. 4 Nebraska 76 - 47 No. 13 Troy
- No. 6 Louisville 83 - 79 No. 11 South Florida
- No. 5 Wisconsin 82 - 83 No. 12 High Point
- No. 1 Duke 71 - 65 No. 16 Siena
- No. 5 Vanderbilt 78 - 68 No. 12 McNeese
- No. 3 Michigan State 92 - 67 No. 14 North Dakota State
- No. 4 Arkansas 97 - 68 No. 13 Hawaii
- No. 6 North Carolina 78 - 82 No. 11 VCU
- No. 1 Michigan 101 - 80 No. 16 Howard
- No. 6 BYU 71 - 79 No. 11 Texas
- No. 7 Saint Mary's 50 - 63 No. 10 Texas A&M
- No. 3 Illinois 105 - 70 No. 14 Penn
- No. 8 Georgia 77 - 102 No. 9 Saint Louis
- No. 3 Gonzaga 73 - 64 No. 14 Kennesaw State
- No. 2 Houston 78 - 47. No. 15 Idaho
Friday, March 20
- No. 7 Kentucky 89 - 84 No. 10 Santa Clara
- No. 5 Texas Tech 97 - 71 No. 12 Akron
- No. 1 Arizona 92 - 58 No. 16 LIU
- No. 3 Virginia 82 - 73 No. 14 Wright State
- No. 2 Iowa State 108 - 74 No. 15 Tennessee State
- No. 4 Alabama 90 - 70 No. 13 Hofstra
- No. 8 Villanova 76 - 86 No. 9 Utah State
- No. 6 Tennessee 78 - 56 No. 11 Miami (Ohio)
- No. 8 Clemson 67 - 61 No. 9 Iowa
- No. 5 St. John's 79 - 53 No. 12 Northern Iowa
- No. 7 UCLA 75 - 73 No. 10 UCF
- No. 2 Purdue 104 - 71 No. 15 Queens
- No. 16 Prairie View A&M 55 - 114 No. 1 Florida
- No. 4 Kansas 68 - 60 No. 13 Cal Baptist
- No. 2 UConn 82 - 71 No. 15 Furman
- No. 7 Miami 80 - 66 No. 10 Missouri
Second Round
Saturday, March 21
- (1) Michigan 95 -72 (9) Saint Louis
- (3) Michigan State 77 - 69 (6) Louisville
- (1) Duke 81 - 58 (9) TCU
- (2) Houston 88 - 57 (10) Texas
- (3) Gonzaga 68 - 74 (11) Texas
- (3) Illinois 76 - 55 (11) VCU
- (4) Nebraska 74 - 72 (5) Vanderbilt
- (4) Arkansas 94 - 88 (12) High Point
Sunday, March 22
- (2) Purdue 79 - 69 (7) Miami (Fla.)
- (2) Iowa State 82 - 63 (7) Kentucky
- (5) St. John's 67 - 65 (4) Kansas
- (3) Virginia 72 - 79 (6) Tennessee
- (1) Florida 72 - 73 (9) Iowa
- (1) Arizona 78 - 66 (9) Utah State
- (2) UConn 73 - 57 (7) UCLA
- (4) Alabama 90 - 65 (5) Texas Tech | 9:45 p.m. | TBS
Sweet 16
Thursday, March 26
- (2) Purdue 79 - 77 (11) Texas
- (4) Nebraska 71 - 77 (9) Iowa
- (1) Arizona 109 - 88 (4) Arkansas
- (2) Houston 55 - 65 (3) Illinois
Friday, March 27
- (1) Duke 80 - 75 (5) St. John's
- (1) Michigan 90 - 77 (4) Alabama
- (2) UConn 67 - 63 (3) Michigan State
- (2) Iowa State 62 - 76 (6) Tennessee
Elite 8
Saturday, March 28
- (3) Illinois 71 - 59 (9) Iowa
- (1) Arizona 79 - 64 (2) Purdue
Sunday, March 29
- (1) Michigan 95 vs 62 (6) Tennessee
- (1) Duke 72 - 73 (2) UConn
Final Four
Saturday, April 4
- (2) UConn vs. (3) Illinois, 6:09 p.m. | TBS/TNT/truTV
- (1) Michigan vs. (1) Arizona, 9 p.m. | TBS/TNT/truTV