when are the first four games of march madness

The First Four games of March Madness in 2026 are on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 and Wednesday, March 18, 2026 (all in Dayton, Ohio at UD Arena).

Quick Scoop

• The NCAA lists the First Four dates as March 17–18, 2026.

• Coverage each night is scheduled to start around 6 p.m. ET , with two games on Tuesday and two on Wednesday.

• These games are the official start of the 2026 NCAA men’s tournament, leading into the Round of 64 on Thursday, March 19.

You can think of the First Four as the opening play‑in stage: eight teams, four games, two nights, all in Dayton, battling for the final spots in the main bracket.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.