when does the ncaa tournament start 2026

The 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament (March Madness) officially starts with the First Four games on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Quick Scoop: When does the NCAA Tournament start 2026?

Here’s how the start of March Madness 2026 lines up:

• Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 15, 2026 – the full 68‑team bracket is revealed and the road to the championship “officially” begins.

• Tournament tip-off (First Four):
  • Dates: March 17–18, 2026 (Tuesday–Wednesday).

* These games are played in **Dayton, Ohio** , and decide the final spots in the main 64‑team bracket.

• First Round (full 64-team bracket):
  • Dates: March 19–20, 2026 (Thursday–Friday).

So if you’re asking “when does the NCAA tournament start 2026,” the on-court action begins the evening of March 17, 2026 , but the madness really kicks off with Selection Sunday on March 15, 2026.

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