when do march madness brackets need to be completed

You need to have your March Madness brackets completed before the first Round of 64 game tips off for that tournament (men’s or women’s), because brackets generally lock at the start of that round and can’t be changed afterward.

Key deadline in practical terms

• For most online contests and office pools, brackets close right at the first Round of 64 game’s scheduled tip time for that tournament.

• In 2026, the men’s Round of 64 starts Thursday, March 19 at 12 p.m. ET, so men’s brackets must be completed and submitted by then.

• The women’s Round of 64 starts Friday, March 20 (first game at 11 a.m. ET), so women’s brackets are due by that tip time.

Organizers sometimes set an earlier cutoff for their own pools (for example, “night before the first game”), so it’s smart to check the specific rules of the site or pool you’re using.

Quick forum-style perspective

“Brackets lock when the first real game starts. First Four doesn’t usually count, but don’t cut it close—sites can lag and your ‘last-second upset pick’ might not save.”

A good rule of thumb: aim to finish your bracket the night after Selection Sunday or at least a full day before that first Thursday (men) or Friday (women) game, so you’re not scrambling with logins, site crashes, or last- minute lineup news.

TL;DR:
March Madness brackets need to be completed and submitted before the first Round of 64 game of that tournament (men’s or women’s), which is usually midday on the Thursday (men) and late morning on the Friday (women) after Selection Sunday.

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