2026 March Madness Bracket: Printable & Fillable NCAA Tournament Picks
The road to college basketball’s championship has officially begun. Selection Sunday has passed, and the 68 teams vying for the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament title have been revealed. The tournament, known as March Madness, will unfold over the next three weeks, culminating in the Final Four in Indianapolis on April 4th and 6th, and the championship game on April 6th.
The First Four games, which determine the final spots in the 64-team bracket, are already underway, taking place on Tuesday, March 17th and Wednesday, March 18th in Dayton, Ohio. These contests pit teams that either won their conference tournaments but didn’t automatically qualify for an at-large bid, or the lowest-ranked automatic qualifiers against each other. The winners advance to the first round.
The first and second rounds will be played across eight different sites from March 19th through March 22nd. These sites include Buffalo, New York; Greenville, South Carolina; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Portland, Oregon; Tampa, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and San Diego, California. Each location will host four games in the first round and four in the second, creating a regionalized competition before teams converge for the Sweet Sixteen.
The Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games will be played from March 26th through March 29th, narrowing the field down to the final four teams. These crucial games will determine who advances to the Final Four, held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The national championship game will then be played on April 6th at the same venue, crowning the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball champion.
CBS Sports and TNT Sports will provide comprehensive coverage of all 67 games throughout the tournament. Fans can follow the action on CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV, with streaming options available on Paramount+ and HBO Max. The tournament’s broadcast partners will deliver previews, picks, analysis, and breaking news to keep fans informed every step of the way.
For those eager to participate in the excitement, bracket challenges are available. Fans can fill out their brackets and compete for prizes, including a dream trip to the 2027 Final Four. The interactive bracket is now available for printing, allowing fans to visually map out their predictions and track the tournament’s progress.
The 2025 champion, the Florida Gators, will look to defend their title, but they will face stiff competition from a field of talented teams. UCLA remains the program with the most championships, boasting 11 titles, a testament to their storied history in college basketball. However, the tournament is known for its unpredictable nature, and upsets are commonplace, making every game a must-watch event.
The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament has a rich history, dating back to 1939. Over the decades, it has evolved into a national phenomenon, captivating audiences with its thrilling games and dramatic moments. The tournament’s single-elimination format adds to the intensity, as every game carries significant weight and one loss can end a team’s championship aspirations.
As the tournament progresses, storylines will emerge, stars will be born, and unforgettable memories will be created. The 2026 March Madness promises to be another exciting chapter in the history of college basketball, and fans around the country are eagerly anticipating the action. With the bracket set and the games underway, the quest for the national championship is officially on.
Click here to enlarge and print the blank 2026 March Madness bracket.
