The first March Madness game in 2026 is on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 6:40 p.m. ET , when the men’s tournament tips off with the opening First Four play‑in game in Dayton, Ohio.

Quick Scoop: Key Details

  • First day of games: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 (First Four).
  • Very first tip-off: 6:40 p.m. ET , a First Four matchup between 16-seeds at UD Arena, Dayton.
  • Main First Round (full 64-team bracket) starts: Thursday, March 19, 2026.

So if you’re asking “when is first March Madness game,” the answer is March 17, 2026, 6:40 p.m. ET for the First Four opener, with the full slate of First Round games beginning on March 19.

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