The NIT teams will be announced on Selection Sunday, March 15, 2026, at about 9:30 p.m. ET , a little after the NCAA Tournament field is finalized.

Quick Scoop: When will the NIT teams be announced?

  • Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • Time: Around 9:30 p.m. ET , after the NCAA Selection Show wraps up.
  • How they’re revealed: The 32-team NIT field is unveiled as a full bracket, shared on TV and online.
  • Where to watch: Coverage is scheduled on ESPN2 and related streaming apps, following the NCAA bracket reveal.

In recent years, the NIT has sometimes tinkered with how it announces the field (full TV show vs. online-only), but for 2026, it’s slotted into Sunday night with a clear time window after the main March Madness bracket drops.

Think of it as the second wave of Selection Sunday: once the 68 NCAA spots are locked, the NIT swoops in and grabs many of the best remaining teams.

Extra context & what happens next

Once the NIT teams are announced on March 15:

  1. Bracket goes live
    • A 32-team bracket is released, showing first-round matchups and hosting sites.
  1. First-round games tip off fast
    • Games start March 17–18 , just two days after selections.
  1. Later rounds and finals
    • Second round: March 21–22.
 * Quarterfinals: March 24–25.

 * Semifinals: April 2 in Indianapolis.

 * Championship: April 5.

A typical fan experience: you watch the NCAA Selection Show, debate who got snubbed, and then shortly after you see many of those bubble or regular‑season champion teams pop up in the NIT bracket announcement.

Mini FAQ

Is the NIT field always announced on Selection Sunday?
Most years, yes—the NIT field is filled on Sunday night right after the NCAA bracket reveal, and 2026 follows that pattern.

Will there be a dedicated selection show or just online?
For 2026, coverage is planned on ESPN2 plus streaming, though some past years (like 2025) leaned more on online posting of the bracket.

Why is the timing important?
The committees need the finalized NCAA field first, so they can see which teams just missed and which conference champs didn’t get in, then slot them into the NIT.

TL;DR:
You’ll find out who is in the NIT on Sunday night, March 15, 2026, around 9:30 p.m. ET , right after the NCAA Tournament field is set, with the full bracket rolling out on TV and online.

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