NCAA Tournament 2026 Venues Overview The 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, known as March Madness, is currently underway with games spread across multiple cities and arenas nationwide. As of mid-March 2026, first- and second-round games kicked off on March 19, building excitement toward the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four in Indianapolis, and the National Championship.

First and Second Rounds These early rounds feature high-energy matchups in diverse locations, drawing massive crowds to regional arenas. Here's a breakdown of key sites hosting games on March 19-22:

City Venue Dates Host
Buffalo, NY KeyBank Center March 19 & 21 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Canisius University, Niagara University
Greenville, SC Bon Secours Wellness Arena March 19 & 21 Furman, Southern Conference
Oklahoma City, OK Paycom Center March 19 & 21 Big 12 Conference
Portland, OR Moda Center March 19 & 21 Oregon State University
Tampa, FL Benchmark International Arena March 20 & 22 University of South Florida
Philadelphia, PA Xfinity Mobile Arena March 20 & 22 Saint Joseph's University
San Diego, CA Viejas Arena March 20 & 22 San Diego State University
St. Louis, MO Enterprise Center March 20 & 22 Missouri Valley Conference
[3][5][1] **Sweet 16 and Elite Eight Sites** Advancing teams head to larger venues for intense regional battles on March 26-29. Expect electric atmospheres in these spots:
  • Houston, TX : Toyota Center (March 26 & 28), hosted by Rice University.
  • San Jose, CA : SAP Center (March 26 & 28), hosted by San Jose State University.
  • Chicago, IL : United Center (March 27 & 29), hosted by Northwestern University.
  • Washington, D.C. : Capital One Arena (March 27 & 29), hosted by Georgetown University.

Final Four and Championship The climax unfolds in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium for the Final Four semifinals and National Championship, a tradition-rich finale drawing over 70,000 fans.

First Four Kickoff
Dayton, Ohio's UD Arena hosts the First Four play-in games, setting the tournament's underdog tone since 1985.

This setup spans the U.S. coast-to-coast, blending iconic arenas with fresh hosts for broad fan access—perfect for road trips or watch parties.

TL;DR Bottom: NCAA games are at 16+ sites like KeyBank Center (Buffalo), Moda Center (Portland), Toyota Center (Houston), ending at Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis).

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