March Madness isn't just a basketball tournament. It's a three-week fever dream that takes over North America, turning casual office workers into amateur bracketologists and die-hard alumni into nervous wrecks. If you’re asking when does the ncaa tournament begin, you’re likely looking for that specific date to clear your calendar, call out of work, or place a few (legal) wagers.
For the 2026 season, the madness officially kicks off on March 17, 2026.
But wait. If you show up to your favorite sports bar on Thursday thinking that's the "start," you've already missed two days of the most desperate, high-stakes basketball of the year. The NCAA tournament is a tiered beast. It doesn't just "happen"; it unfolds in waves.
The True Starting Line: Selection Sunday 2026
Before a single sneaker squeaks on a hardwood floor, we have the selection show. This is the holy grail of sports Sunday.
On March 15, 2026, the selection committee will reveal the field of 68 teams. This is when the bubble bursts for teams like those middle-of-the-pack ACC or Big 12 schools that spent all February praying for a signature win. Honestly, Selection Sunday is almost as stressful as the games themselves. You've got teams like St. John’s or Michigan State potentially sweating it out until the very last bracket segment is revealed.
Once those 68 names are on the board, the countdown begins. You have exactly 48 hours to fill out your bracket before the first tip-off.
The First Four: March 17-18, 2026
When does the ncaa tournament begin for real? In Dayton, Ohio.
Since 2011, the University of Dayton Arena has hosted the "First Four." These games are often dismissed by casual fans, but that’s a mistake. These are play-in games. They feature the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers (usually champions from smaller conferences like the NEC or the SWAC) and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams.
- Tuesday, March 17: Two games.
- Wednesday, March 18: Two games.
Basically, these teams are playing for their lives just to get into the "official" bracket of 64. Fun fact: we’ve seen teams from the First Four—like VCU in 2011 or UCLA in 2021—go all the way to the Final Four. Don't sleep on Dayton.
The Chaos of the First Round: March 19-20, 2026
This is what most people mean when they ask when the tournament starts. Thursday morning. 12:15 PM ET. The first game tips off, and suddenly, productivity across the United States drops by about 70%.
The First Round is a 48-hour sprint. 32 games in two days. It’s glorious.
In 2026, the games will be spread across cities like Buffalo, Greenville, Oklahoma City, and Portland. If you're planning a viewing party, these are the dates you need to circle in red. It’s when the 15-seeds try to topple the 2-seeds and when the "Cinderella" stories actually begin to take shape.
2026 Key Dates and Rounds
| Round | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| First Four | March 17-18 | Dayton, OH |
| First/Second Rounds | March 19-22 | Various Sites |
| Sweet 16 / Elite 8 | March 26-29 | Regional Sites |
| Final Four | April 4 | Indianapolis, IN |
| Championship Game | April 6 | Indianapolis, IN |
Sweet 16 and Beyond: The Road to Indy
By the time we hit the second week, the field is trimmed from 68 down to 16. This is where the "Madness" gets serious. The games move to regional sites. In 2026, we’re looking at Houston (South), San Jose (West), Chicago (Midwest), and Washington D.C. (East).
The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight happen from March 26 to March 29.
Then comes the big one. The Final Four. In 2026, the tournament returns to its unofficial home: Indianapolis. Lucas Oil Stadium will host the national semifinals on Saturday, April 4, and the National Championship on Monday, April 6.
There is something special about Indy. The city is built for this. Everything is walkable, the energy is electric, and the NCAA headquarters are right there. If you’ve never been to a Final Four in Indianapolis, put it on your bucket list. Kinda feels like the center of the basketball universe for 72 hours.
Why the Start Date Always Shifts
You might notice the date isn't the same every year. The NCAA likes to keep it consistent by schedule, not by calendar date. It almost always begins on the third Tuesday of March.
Why? It’s all about the TV windows and the "Championship Monday" tradition. The tournament has to end on a Monday night in early April to avoid clashing with other major events and to ensure the highest possible ratings for the title game.
How to Actually Watch the Start
If you're trying to catch the beginning of the tournament, you're going to need a remote with fresh batteries. The coverage is split between four networks: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV.
For the First Four in Dayton, you'll usually find those on truTV. Once the first round starts on Thursday, the games are scattered across all four channels. Pro tip: if you’re at work, the NCAA "March Madness Live" app is your best friend, though your boss might not agree.
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Common Misconceptions About the Start
A lot of people think the tournament starts with the conference championships. It doesn't.
While the Big Ten, SEC, and ACC tournaments are exciting and determine who gets an automatic bid, they are technically "postseason" but not "The Big Dance." The NCAA tournament officially starts with the First Four in Dayton.
Another thing: don't get confused between the Men's and Women's tournaments. They run nearly parallel, but the Women's tournament typically starts its First Four a day later and its championship game is on Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Phoenix.
Preparing for Tip-Off
Now that you know when does the ncaa tournament begin, what should you do?
- Book your travel now. If you want to go to Dayton or Indianapolis, prices are only going up.
- Watch the mid-majors. Keep an eye on teams from the Sun Belt or the MAC in late February. Those are the teams that usually cause the most havoc in the first round.
- Check your subscription. Make sure you actually have truTV. Every year, thousands of people realize they don't have it five minutes before a 16-seed starts beating a 1-seed.
The countdown to March 17, 2026, is on. Whether you're a bracket shark or just there for the snacks, knowing exactly when the clock starts is the first step to surviving the madness.
Actionable Next Steps
- Mark March 15, 2026, on your calendar as Selection Sunday to ensure you have your bracket ready before the Tuesday start.
- Verify your cable or streaming package includes TBS, TNT, and truTV at least a week before the First Four begins.
- Set up "March Madness Live" alerts for your favorite teams now so you don't miss the initial tip-off times when they are announced.