It happens every single year. You think you've got the dates circled, you tell your boss you're "working from home," and then you realize you’re a day early or, even worse, you missed the opening tip because you forgot about the First Four.
Honestly, keeping track of the march madness basketball schedule is kinda like trying to defend a full-court press while wearing flip-flops. It's fast, it’s messy, and if you aren't prepared, you’re going to trip.
We are looking at the 2026 tournament right now. The 87th edition. The madness officially begins with Selection Sunday on March 15, 2026. This is the day when the committee locks themselves in a room, eats too much takeout, and decides which 68 teams actually matter. If you’re a bubble team fan, this is the most stressful Sunday of your life.
The 2026 March Madness Basketball Schedule: Where and When
The road to the Final Four is long. It's basically a three-week marathon of buzzer-beaters and heartbreak.
💡 You might also like: Why the Colts and Vikings Rivalry is Weirder Than You Think
Everything kicks off in Dayton, Ohio. It always does. The First Four games are set for March 17 and 18 at UD Arena. People used to ignore these games, but after teams like VCU and UCLA went from the First Four to the Final Four, you’d be crazy to skip them.
The Opening Weekend Chaos
Once the field is trimmed to 64, the real insanity starts. For 2026, the first and second rounds are split across eight different cities.
If you’re looking to catch games on Thursday, March 19, and Saturday, March 21, you’ll need to be in one of these spots:
- Buffalo, NY at the KeyBank Center.
- Greenville, SC at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
- Oklahoma City, OK at the Paycom Center.
- Portland, OR at the Moda Center.
Now, if you’re a Friday/Sunday person (March 20 and 22), the action moves to:
✨ Don't miss: Why Jackie Robinson Stadium Daytona Still Matters in 2026
- Tampa, FL at Amalie Arena.
- Philadelphia, PA at the Wells Fargo Center.
- San Diego, CA at Viejas Arena.
- St. Louis, MO at the Enterprise Center.
It's a lot of geography to cover. You’ve got teams flying from the East Coast to the West Coast on 48 hours' notice. It’s brutal.
Regional Rounds: The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight
By the second weekend, the "Cinderella" teams are usually starting to lose their shoes. The pressure gets real. The 2026 regionals are spread out to some iconic basketball hubs.
On March 26 and 28, the South Regional takes over the Toyota Center in Houston, while the West Regional heads to the SAP Center in San Jose.
Then, on March 27 and 29, the Midwest Regional lands at the United Center in Chicago—basically the house that MJ built. Simultaneously, the East Regional will be at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
The Final Destination: Indianapolis 2026
The whole thing wraps up in a city that lives and breathes basketball: Indianapolis. Lucas Oil Stadium is the host for the Final Four on Saturday, April 4, and the National Championship on Monday, April 6.
📖 Related: Why the Kylian Mbappé Real Madrid kit is actually breaking the internet (and retail records)
Indy has hosted this thing nine times now. They know what they’re doing. The city becomes a giant basketball theme park for a week.
What You Need to Do Right Now
If you actually want to see this in person, you can't wait until March. The march madness basketball schedule is fixed, but ticket availability is not.
- Check your PTO: If you want the full experience, you need that first Thursday and Friday off. No exceptions.
- Book hotels early: Especially for the regional sites like Chicago and D.C. Prices triple the second the bracket is released.
- Follow the bubble: Keep an eye on teams like the mid-majors who might steal an automatic bid. That changes the travel dynamic instantly.
Get your spreadsheets ready. Clear your calendar. The countdown to Selection Sunday is officially on.