March Madness 2026 Countdown: Buckle Up for Epic Hoop Dives and Playoff Shocks!
This article gives you the answer as to when March Madness 2026 starts, along with key information on how you can watch the tournament this year.
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND - MARCH 19: The March Madness logo is pictured at Amica Mutual Pavillion during Practice Day ahead of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on March 19, 2025 in Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) Getty Images March Madness is one of the most popular sporting events of the year. Even those who don’t watch college basketball up to this point often become engaged because of how fun making a bracket can be.
Regardless of whether you’re a die hard college basketball fan or you’re making a bracket just for fun, here’s what you need to know about how you can watch the tournament. Below, we’ll break down when the tournament starts, how to find the full schedule for each game, and where you can watch these games. When Does March Madness 2026 Start?
The March Madness tournament includes a few games are called the first four. These are the last teams to make the tournament. That part of the tournament kicks off on March 17th , where UMBC takes on Howard at 6:40 pm ET.
The winner of that game becomes the 16th seed in the Midwest side of the bracket. In total, four games are played, and it goes from Tuesday the 17th through Wednesday the 18th. Now, the round of 64 is when most fans start paying attention because the bracket is officially set by this point.