Selection Sunday for March Madness in 2026 is on Sunday, March 15, with the men’s bracket reveal at 6 p.m. ET and the women’s bracket reveal at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Quick Scoop: When Is March Madness Selection Sunday?

  • Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • Men’s Selection Show: 6 p.m. ET on CBS.
  • Women’s Selection Show: 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
  • This night officially kicks off March Madness as the full 68‑team brackets are revealed.

Why Selection Sunday Matters

  • It’s when the selection committee unveils the full bracket: all 68 teams, seeds, and regions.
  • “Bubble” teams find out if they’re in or out, which creates a lot of live drama and debate on air.
  • Fans use the show to start filling out brackets, planning watch parties, and checking potential Cinderella runs.

Mini Timeline Around Selection Sunday 2026

  • Selection Sunday: March 15.
  • First Four: March 17–18.
  • First Round: March 19–20.
  • Second Round: March 21–22.

At-a-Glance Table (Key Times)

Event Date (2026) Time (ET) Channel
Men’s Selection Sunday show Sunday, March 15 6 p.m. CBS
Women’s Selection Sunday show Sunday, March 15 8 p.m. ESPN
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Once the brackets drop on March 15, the madness truly begins—so that’s the night to have your screens ready.

TL;DR: When is March Madness Selection Sunday? Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET for the men’s bracket on CBS and 8 p.m. ET for the women’s on ESPN.

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