when will march madness end
March Madness 2026 ends on Monday, April 6, 2026 , when the NCAA championship game is played in Indianapolis.
Schedule snapshot
- Selection Sunday was March 15.
- The Sweet 16 is March 26-27.
- The Elite Eight is March 28-29.
- The Final Four is April 4.
- The title game is April 6.
Why it runs into April
The tournament starts in mid-March, but the bracket includes multiple rounds and rest days, so the last game usually falls in early April rather than at the end of March.