when will march madness end

March Madness 2026 ends on Monday, April 6, 2026 , when the NCAA championship game is played in Indianapolis.

Schedule snapshot

• Selection Sunday was March 15.

• The Sweet 16 is March 26-27.

• The Elite Eight is March 28-29.

• The Final Four is April 4.

• The title game is April 6.

Why it runs into April

The tournament starts in mid-March, but the bracket includes multiple rounds and rest days, so the last game usually falls in early April rather than at the end of March.