March Madness is the popular name given to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. It’s a 68-team, single-game-elimination super competition, where fans see top teams and embrace Cinderella-type stories each year. March Madness is also one of the most bet-on college and sports events in the world. From the First Four, all the way until the final buzzer of the national championship game, few competitions produce the level of excitement and entertainment like March Madness.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament begins with Selection Sunday on 15 March 2026. It’s the time when the 68-team bracket is revealed, around 11:00 PM GMT. Then, the First Four play-in games follow on 17-18 of March. The tournament will run until 6 April 2026, when the National Championship game is scheduled at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. If you want to know about the game dates, bracket situation and key facts about March Madness, our team has prepared a useful guide to help you out!
When Does March Madness 2026 Start?
Everything technically starts with Selection Sunday on 15 March. That’s when the NCAA Selection Committee will reveal the complete 68-team bracket with assigned seedings and matchups. However, the first tip-offs are actually scheduled for 17-18 March in UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio. Check out the list below to get to know March Madness 2026 start dates and scheduling:
- Selection Sunday: Sunday, 15 March, 6:00 PM ET Local time, 11:00 PM GMT on CBS
- First Four: Tuesday – Wednesday, 17-18 March – UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
- First Round: Thursday – Friday, 19-20 March, 8 locations across the U.S.
- Second Round: Saturday – Sunday, 21-22 March, same 8 locations as the First Round
- Sweet 16: Thursday – Friday, 26-27 March, Houston, San Jose, Chicago & Washington D.C.
- Elite Eight: Saturday – Sunday, 28-29 March, same 4 regional venues as with the Sweet 16
- Final Four: Saturday, 4 April, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
- National Championship Game: Monday, 6 April, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana, tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 PM ET, local time and ~1:30 AM BST
Watch the official NCAA, ESPN and CBS Sports websites, as well as Sky Sports in the UK, to know about any schedule changes or updates.
What is March Madness?
March Madness is an unofficial title of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, held annually. The nickname “March Madness” was popularised in the 1980s by fans and basketball pundits. The title fits because there’s just so much basketball at this time of the year and because the single-game-elimination format can bring so much chaos. An upset can send a favourite packing home early, so standings, seedings and reputation don’t always translate to wins on the floor.
It’s a grand tournament, comprising of 68 teams, selected by the NCAA Selection Committee. Out of the 68 teams:
- 31 are automatic bids, winning their respective conferences
- 37 at-large bids, awarded to the most deserving teams, as deemed by the Committee (based on record, schedule strength and even advanced metrics)
- The Committee will seed all teams 1-68 and divide each team into 4 regional brackets (South, West, Midwest & East)
The format is merciless – lose once and you’re out. Contrary to the NBA’s Best-of-7 series, March Madness is similar to the NFL Playoffs, where there are no 2nd chances. In addition to the large field of teams, these two factors are major drivers for the huge basketball betting activity of March Madness.
How does the March Madness Bracket Works?
Since the tournament is one of the most important on the sport’s calendar, let’s try to understand how its bracket and stages work.
The 68-Team Format
Once the 68-team field is confirmed, the tournament‘s bracket structure goes into full swing.
It‘s going to be 6 rounds that reduce the field to the finalists, and then the champion will be crowned. The First Four make 64 teams with each subsequent round halving the remaining field: 64 → 32 (First Round) → 16 (Second Round) → 8 (Sweet 16) → 4 (Elite Eight) → 2 (Final Four) → 1 champion.
In total, March Madness delivers 67 games throughout the tournament. All of them will have betting markets on 7bet.
The First Four
Held at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, on 17-18 March, the First Four is the official opening of March Madness. The 8 teams that are lowest-ranked auto qualifiers and the 4 lowest-ranked at-large teams will go head-to-head in elimination games. Winners of the First Four advance to the main 64-team bracket and face a No. 1 seed in the first round.
Despite the challenging road ahead, First Four winners have occasionally made deep Cinderella runs.
Regions & Seeding
The 64-team main bracket is always divided into 4 regional brackets: South, West, Midwest and East.
Each bracket has 16 teams, seeded 1 through 16. The No. 1 teams are assessed and ranked by the Selection Committee, with No. 16 seeds being the lowest-ranked qualifiers.
In each region, 1 plays 16, 2 plays 15, 3 plays 14, and so on through to 8 vs 9. Only the 4 regional winners will advance to the Final Four. While the brackets are designed to give higher seeds an easier path on paper, in reality, the merciless format of the tournament can deliver surprises. Speaking of which.
Upsets & Cinderella Teams
Upsets in March Madness are not an anomaly, but rather almost a given, a structural feature, so to speak. The compressed schedule, neutral venues and the single-elimination format amplify the abundance of unpredictable game outcomes. Where longer series would smooth things out, March Madness tends to deliver amazing variance.
For example, statistics show that quite often 12-seeds beat 5-seeds while 11-seeds tend to reach the Sweet 16 frequently. However, look at these stats with a grain of salt, as no one can predict the outcomes of future games. These are only statistical facts of what chaos ensued in previous tournaments.
Where is March Madness 2026 Being Played?
The 2026 edition of March Madness spans across 13 cities and 14 venues. Here is the full breakdown:
| Round | Venues / Host Cities |
| First Four | UD Arena – Dayton, Ohio |
| First & Second Rounds | Buffalo, NY (KeyBank Center)
Greenville, SC (Bon Secours Wellness Arena) Oklahoma City, OK (Paycom Center) Portland, OR (Moda Center) |
| First & Second Rounds | Tampa, FL (Benchmark International Arena)
Philadelphia, PA (Xfinity Mobile Arena) San Diego, CA (Viejas Arena) St. Louis, MO (Enterprise Center) |
| Sweet 16 & Elite Eight (South) | Houston, TX (Toyota Center) |
| Sweet 16 & Elite Eight (West) | San Jose, CA (SAP Center) |
| Sweet 16 & Elite Eight (Midwest) | Chicago, IL (United Center) |
| Sweet 16 & Elite Eight (East) | Washington, D.C. (Capital One Arena) |
| Final Four & Championship | Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana |
The Final Four venue – Lucas Oil Stadium has a capacity of over 70,000. It’s one of the premier sports venues in American Sport, well-fitting the unofficial label of the “American Basketball HQ” that Indianapolis often gets.
Key Teams & Storylines for March Madness 2026
The 2026 field seems to be one of the deepest and most competitive in recent memory. Let’s look at the key teams and main storylines to help you be informed.
How Will the defending champs, the Florida Gators, Square Up?
Throughout history, only 8 colleges have managed to win back-to-back championships. UConn did it most recently in 2023 & 2024.
Florida Gators enter this year’s tournament as defending champs. A repeat would be historically rare, but the Gators have one of the nation’s most dominant frontcourts, led by Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, and Alex Condon. Guard play remains a weakness. They are projected as a #2 or #3 seed.
Pre-Tournament Favourites
The four projected #1 seeds are also the pre-tournament betting frontrunners for the Outright championship market. All of them are perennial college basketball powerhouses: Duke, Michigan, Arizona and UConn.
Duke is led by freshman superstar Cameron Boozer (son of a very solid NBA big man, Carlos Boozer).
Michigan is coached by Dusty May, often hailed as the most balanced squad in the NCAA, combining TOP 10 efficiency on both sides of the court. No other programme has managed that this year.
Arizona is another strong contender with dominant interior players like Tobe Awaka and Motiejus Krivas.
UConn, on the other hand, is the last squad to win back-to-back. Dan Hurley always brings a championship pedigree and can maximise their potential. They’re always dangerous, regardless of seeding.
Dangerous Contenders / Dark Horses
Each year, not only the favourites, but dangerous contenders wreak havoc during the tournament. Learning about dangerous, high-ranked contenders can help you make more informed bets.
Houston has 3 of the same starters from last year’s runner-up squad. Under Kelvin Sampson, the Cougars remain one of the hardest squads to score against, meaning you can expect a deep run from them.
Illinois is another squad worth mentioning. A deep roster can work wonders in a tournament like this, making them a genuine Finals threat.
Iowa State and Kansas represent the Big 12’s depth while Michigan State and Gonzaga can’t be counted out just yet.
Cinderella Watch
Every March Madness field contains teams that can make an unexpected deep run. These are called Cinderella stories. With 11 & 12-seeds historically being the most fertile grounds for upsets, make sure to do your research before betting, as anything can happen.
Some experts praise Saint Louis, Santa Clara, and Miami (Ohio) as teams that can trouble higher-ranked opposition. Check out outright betting markets to identify potential Cinderellas.
How Long Does March Madness Last?
March Madness spans over 3 weeks from start to finish. The bracket is revealed on 15 March, and the national championship game is played on 6 April. That’s a total of 22 days from Selection Sunday, up until the final buzzer.
With such a dense structure of 67 games over 3 weeks, the intensity never drops. Through the First and Second Round, there’s a continuous stream of games for fans to enjoy and bet on.
How to Watch March Madness 2026 in the UK?
If you’re in the UK, Sky Sports holds the broadcast rights for March Madness 2026. Most games will primarily air on Sky Sports+. Selected later-round fixtures will also be shown on Sky Sports Main Event. Sky subscribers can stream without extra cost. However, you can also access all Sky Sports channels through Now if you subscribe to their Sports Membership package (no contract required).
The time difference means that most games tip off between 5:00 PM and 3:00 AM GMT/BST. The championship game is scheduled for 6 April 1:30 AM BST.
March Madness 2026 FAQ
When Does March Madness 2026 Start?
The official tournament begins on Selection Sunday – 15 March 2026. After the bracket is revealed, the initial game of the First Four is scheduled to tip off on 17 March. The main 64-team bracket starts on 19 March.
When is the Final Four 2026?
The Final Four starts on Saturday, 4 April 2026. It’s hosted by the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The national semi-finals should tip off at 6:09 PM ET and 8:49 PM ET (approximately 11:09 PM BST and 1:49 AM BST). The national championship game is set to be played on Monday, 6 April at 8:30 PM ET (1:30 AM BST on Tuesday).
How Many Teams are in March Madness?
In total, 68 teams compete in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. However, 4 of them don’t reach the main bracket and are eliminated through the First Four. The Main tournament has 64 teams.
What is Selection Sunday?
That is the event when the NCAA Selection Committee reveals the complete 68-team bracket for March Madness and assigns seeds to all squads. With the bracket reveal, matchups are set, and more betting markets for pre-match March Madness 2026 become available.
Can I Bet on March Madness at 7bet?
Yes, our sportsbook has pre-match, outright and even IN-PLAY live markets. You can bet on outright tournament and regional winners, match results with 1×2 betting, point spreads and more. Check out available markets by game at your own pace.
Betting is only available to participants above 18 years. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org