The Sweet 16 for the 2026 NCAA men’s March Madness tournament starts on Thursday, March 26, 2026 , and continues on Friday, March 27, 2026.

Quick Scoop

  • The Sweet 16 is the regional semifinal round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, featuring the last 16 teams remaining.
  • For the 2026 tournament, Sweet 16 games are scheduled across two days: March 26–27, 2026.
  • Those dates fall after the opening rounds (First Four, Round of 64, and Round of 32), which run from March 17–21, 2026.

2026 Sweet 16 timing

  • Official NCAA scheduling lists the Sweet 16 on Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27, 2026.
  • Times are given in Eastern Time and are typically spread across late afternoon and evening TV windows, though exact tip times are released closer to the dates.

Context and latest news

  • The 2026 March Madness schedule runs from Selection Sunday on March 15 through the national championship on April 6 in Indianapolis , with the Sweet 16 as a key midpoint.
  • Locations for the 2026 Sweet 16 include major arenas such as Toyota Center (Houston), SAP Center (San Jose), United Center (Chicago), and Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.).

If you’re planning to watch or bet, circle March 26–27, 2026 on your calendar—that’s when the Sweet 16 tips off and the tournament really tightens up.

TL;DR: The Sweet 16 starts on Thursday, March 26, 2026 , with more games on Friday, March 27, 2026.

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