Selection Sunday 2026: Date, Time, Bracket, and Complete March Madness Schedule
One of the most anticipated days in college basketball is just six days away. Selection Sunday 2026 falls on March 15 — the same night as the Oscars — and the bracket reveal will set off the most chaotic three weeks in American sports.
When Is Selection Sunday 2026?
Selection Sunday for the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament is Sunday, March 15, 2026. The 68-team bracket will be revealed at 6 p.m. ET on CBS. The women's bracket announcement follows at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The selection committee finalizes 31 automatic bids and 37 at-large spots that make up the 68-team men's field. Once the bracket is revealed, March Madness begins fast.
Full 2026 March Madness Schedule — Men's Tournament
Selection Sunday: 6 p.m. ET, March 15 on CBS. First Four: March 17-18 at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. First Round: March 19-20. Second Round: March 21-22. Sweet 16: March 26-27. Elite Eight: March 28-29. Final Four: Saturday, April 4 at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. ET on TBS at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. NCAA Championship Game: Monday, April 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET on TBS at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Where Are the 2026 March Madness Games Being Played?
First and Second Round cities include Buffalo, New York; Greenville, South Carolina; Oklahoma City; Portland; Tampa; Philadelphia; San Diego; and St. Louis. The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will be held in Houston, San Jose, Chicago, and Washington D.C., with the Final Four and championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The Bubble Picture Right Now — Who Is In, Who Is Out
As of March 8, ESPN's Bubble Watch lists 29 lock teams, 14 that should be in, and 11 with work to do — meaning more than a dozen teams could still play their way into or out of the field over the next week of conference tournament play.
Florida, Duke, Michigan, and Arizona are among the top teams in the current NCAA NET rankings. Florida is currently projected as the newest No. 1 overall seed, according to ESPN's latest bracketology update.
Automatic Bids Already Claimed — March 8 Update
Conference tournaments are delivering results fast this weekend. Northern Iowa won the Missouri Valley Conference title to punch its ticket to the Big Dance — the Panthers' first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2016, when they famously knocked off Texas on a half-court buzzer beater. High Point won the Big South Tournament to claim its second consecutive automatic bid. Tennessee State won the Ohio Valley Conference title — its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1994.
Women's Tournament 2026 Schedule
The women's bracket is announced at 8 p.m. ET on March 15 on ESPN. The First Four runs March 18-19, with the Final Four and national championship game in Phoenix at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 3 and 5. The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight are set for Fort Worth, Texas and Sacramento, California.
How to Watch March Madness 2026
CBS and TNT Sports hold television rights to the men's tournament. Games on CBS are also available on Paramount+, while TBS, TNT, and truTV games are also on HBO Max. TBS will televise the 2026 Final Four and National Championship Game.
