when is march madness
March Madness 2026 really ramps up in mid-March, with games running into early April.
Key 2026 March Madness dates
- Selection Sunday (bracket reveal): March 15, 2026.
- First Four play-in games: March 17–18, 2026.
- First round (full madness begins): March 19–20, 2026.
- Second round: March 21–22, 2026.
- Sweet 16: March 26–27, 2026.
- Elite Eight: March 28–29, 2026.
- Final Four (Indianapolis, Lucas Oil Stadium): April 4, 2026.
- National Championship (Indianapolis): April 6, 2026.
Quick HTML table of 2026 dates
| Event | 2026 Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | March 15, 2026 | Full 68‑team field announced. | [1][7]
| First Four | March 17–18, 2026 | Play‑in games in Dayton, Ohio. | [5][7][1][3]
| First Round | March 19–20, 2026 | Main bracket action begins. | [7][1][3]
| Second Round | March 21–22, 2026 | Field shrinks to Sweet 16. | [3][7]
| Sweet 16 | March 26–27, 2026 | Regional semifinals across host cities. | [5][1][7][3]
| Elite Eight | March 28–29, 2026 | Regional finals decide Final Four. | [5][1][7][3]
| Final Four | April 4, 2026 | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. | [9][1][7][3]
| National Championship | April 6, 2026 | Title game in Indianapolis. | [1][7][9][3]
How people usually talk about “when is March Madness?”
When fans say “when is March Madness?” , they usually mean one of three things:
- When the bracket drops (Selection Sunday in mid‑March).
- When games actually start (First Four or First Round a couple of days later).
- The overall window, which typically runs from mid‑March through the first week of April every year.
For 2026, if you just want to block your calendar, think “March 15 through April 6.”
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.