Selection Sunday for March Madness in 2026 is on Sunday, March 15, 2026 , with the men’s bracket reveal show scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on CBS.

Quick Scoop: When Is Selection Sunday for March Madness?

If you’re waiting to lock in your bracket, circle this date:
Selection Sunday is March 15, 2026.

  • Men’s Selection Show: 6 p.m. ET on CBS.
  • Women’s Selection Show: 8 p.m. ET (typically on ESPN).
  • Both men’s and women’s 68‑team fields are revealed that night.

After that, the First Four starts on March 17–18, 2026 , and the full tournament tips off March 19.

Why Selection Sunday Matters

Selection Sunday is the night the 68-team March Madness brackets go live for both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments.

  • Bubble teams find out if they made the field.
  • Seeds and matchups are set across all regions.
  • Fans rush to fill out brackets as soon as the show ends.

“For most fans, Selection Sunday is when the real season starts.”

Key 2026 March Madness Dates

Below is a quick look at the major 2026 tournament dates.

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<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Date</th>
      <th>Event</th>
      <th>Notes</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>March 15, 2026</td>
      <td>Selection Sunday</td>
      <td>Brackets revealed; men 6 p.m. ET (CBS), women 8 p.m. ET</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>March 17–18, 2026</td>
      <td>First Four</td>
      <td>Dayton, OH; opening games of the men’s tournament</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>March 19–22, 2026</td>
      <td>First &amp; Second Rounds</td>
      <td>Full March Madness chaos across multiple sites</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>March 26–29, 2026</td>
      <td>Sweet 16 &amp; Elite Eight</td>
      <td>Regional finals to punch tickets to the Final Four</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>April 4, 2026</td>
      <td>Final Four</td>
      <td>Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>April 6, 2026</td>
      <td>National Championship</td>
      <td>Title game in Indianapolis</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Forum-Style Take: What Fans Are Saying

Across sports forums and social chatter, Selection Sunday is being framed as:

  • The true start of March Madness, more anticipated than many regular-season games.
  • A tension-filled night for bubble teams and mid-majors hoping for at-large bids.
  • A mini “holiday” where fans plan watch parties and bracket pools as soon as the show ends.

You’ll also see a lot of early bracket predictions and “last four in / first four out” debates ramping up in the weeks leading into March 15.

TL;DR

  • When is Selection Sunday for March Madness?
    • Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • What time is the men’s bracket reveal?
    • 6 p.m. ET on CBS.
  • What happens then?
    • Both March Madness brackets (men’s and women’s) are revealed, and bracket season officially begins.

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