NCAA March Madness 2026: First Four Dates and Schedule

2026 March Madness Begins: Men’s and Women’s Tournaments Tip Off

Selection Sunday is over and the brackets are locked. The Men's First Four starts Tuesday in Dayton, with the Women's games following on Wednesday.

Aisha Palmer

Mar 16, 2026, 10:41 PM PT · 1 min read

The 2026 NCAA Men's Tournament officially begins at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, on March 17.

THE RUNDOWN

Selection Sunday revealed all 68-team brackets on March 15, 2026.
The Men's First Four begins Tuesday, March 17, at UD Arena.
Women’s First Four games follow on Wednesday, March 18.
Men’s Final Four is scheduled for April 4 and 6 in Indianapolis.
Women’s Final Four concludes in Phoenix on April 3 and 5.

The wait is finally over for college basketball fans. Following the high-stakes reveal on Selection Sunday on March 15, 2026, the NCAA March Madness Tournament has officially arrived. The road to the championship begins in Dayton, Ohio, as teams battle for those final coveted spots in the main bracket.

The action starts Tuesday, March 17, with the Men’s First Four games at UD Arena. These opening matchups determine which four teams will advance to join the field of 64. Fans won't have to wait long for more hoops, as the Women’s First Four games are set to tip off the following day, Wednesday, March 18.

This year’s journey concludes with two massive championship weekends. The Women’s Final Four will take over Footprint Center in Phoenix on April 3 and 5. Meanwhile, the Men’s Final Four will head to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on April 4 and 6 to crown a new national champion.