Selection Sunday for the 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament is on CBS at 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The women’s Selection Sunday show is on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. ET the same night.

What Channel Is Selection Sunday On?

For 2026, fans actually have two Selection Sunday shows to think about: one for the men’s bracket and one for the women’s bracket.

Men’s Selection Sunday (2026)

  • Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. ET.
  • Channel: CBS.
  • Streaming options:
    • Paramount+.
* March Madness Live app.
* Fubo and other live TV streamers also carry CBS in many markets.

This is the classic “Selection Sunday” show most people mean — the reveal of the 68–team men’s March Madness bracket, region by region, with studio breakdowns right after.

Women’s Selection Sunday (2026)

  • Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • Time: 8:00 p.m. ET.
  • Channel: ESPN.
  • Streaming options:
    • ESPN app and ESPN+ (with appropriate TV or subscription access).
* DirecTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, and similar services that carry ESPN.

This show reveals the 68–team women’s bracket, with heavy focus on projected No. 1 seeds like UConn, UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina for 2026.

Quick View: 2026 Selection Sunday TV Info

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Show Date Time (ET) Channel Main Streaming Options
Men’s Selection Sunday March 15, 2026 6:00 p.m. CBSParamount+, March Madness Live, Fubo (CBS in many markets)
Women’s Selection Sunday March 15, 2026 8:00 p.m. ESPNESPN app/ESPN+, DirecTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV

Why It’s a Big Deal Right Now

Selection Sunday is basically the “season premiere” of March Madness, which is why it trends every March and drives tons of bracket chatter on forums and social feeds. In 2026, both men’s and women’s tournaments have major storylines: projected top seeds, bubble teams hoping to sneak in, and an undefeated UConn women’s squad chasing history.

You’ll see people online:

  • Debating the last four in and first four out.
  • Posting bracket screenshots minutes after the show.
  • Arguing about “snubs” and “bad seeding” well into the night.

On many forums, Selection Sunday threads turn into live game threads for the TV show itself — people react to every reveal in real time and compare notes on which upsets they’re picking.

If You Don’t Have Cable

If you’ve cut the cord but still want to watch:

  1. For CBS (men’s show):
    • Try a live TV streaming service that carries local CBS (like Fubo or YouTube TV in supported areas).
 * Use Paramount+ for the CBS broadcast stream.
  1. For ESPN (women’s show):
    • Use the ESPN app with a TV provider login, or an ESPN+ subscription where applicable.
 * Sign up for a live TV service that includes ESPN (DirecTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV).

A simple example plan: watch the men’s bracket reveal at 6 p.m. ET on CBS via Paramount+, grab a break, then flip to ESPN at 8 p.m. ET for the women’s bracket on the ESPN app or a live TV streaming service.

TL;DR:

  • Men’s Selection Sunday 2026: CBS, 6 p.m. ET, March 15 (also on Paramount+ and March Madness Live).
  • Women’s Selection Sunday 2026: ESPN, 8 p.m. ET, March 15 (also on ESPN app/ESPN+ and major live TV streamers).

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