The phrase “the selection show” most commonly refers to NCAA March Madness “Selection Sunday” , when the men’s basketball tournament bracket is revealed on TV. Based on the latest schedule, the 2026 Selection Sunday show starts at 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

Quick Scoop: When does the Selection Show start?

If you’re talking about March Madness (NCAA men’s tournament) :

  • The Selection Sunday show is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • That’s the live TV special where they reveal all 68 teams, seeds, and regions.
  • It airs after all the conference tournaments have wrapped up, once the 31 automatic bids are locked in.

To convert 6:00 p.m. ET to your local time:

  • Central Time: 5:00 p.m.
  • Mountain Time: 4:00 p.m.
  • Pacific Time: 3:00 p.m.

Just to be clear

There are other “selection” type events and shows (like reality shows or talent shows), but when people ask “when does the selection show start?” around March, they almost always mean NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday.

If you meant a different “selection” show (for example, a TV talent competition or a show based on The Selection book series), tell me the exact show name and region, and I can narrow down the start time for that.

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