NCAA Mens March Madness Tickets

What is the 2026 NCAA March Madness schedule?

When the calendar turns to March, the NCAA Tournament frenzy begins. Selection Sunday takes place on March 15, 2026, when the full 68-team field will be revealed along with official seedings. The tournament opens with the First Four play-in games on March 17 & 18, held at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, where the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and at-large teams battle for the final spots in the main bracket.

The First and Second Rounds—involving the full field of 64 teams—unfold from March 19 through March 22. On March 19 & 21, games are hosted at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY; Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC; Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK; and Moda Center in Portland, OR. Meanwhile March 20 & 22 action is hosted in Tampa, FL (Benchmark International Arena), Philadelphia, PA (Xfinity Mobile Arena), San Diego, CA (Viejas Arena), and St. Louis, MO (Enterprise Center).

As the field narrows, the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight (Regional Semifinals & Finals) are scheduled for March 26 & 28 in the South Regional at Toyota Center (Houston, TX) and the West Regional at SAP Center (San Jose, CA), followed by March 27 & 29 matchups in the Midwest Regional at United Center (Chicago, IL) and East Regional at Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.).

Finally, the elite survivors head to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the Final Four semifinals on April 4 and the National Championship Game on April 6—capping off the tournament with high-stakes drama and crowning the 2026 national champion.

Summary Table (2026 NCAA March Madness)

This multi-week championship features games across multiple cities before culminating in Indianapolis. Let me know if you'd like details on game times, TV or streaming options, or ticket availability!

How much are NCAA March Madness tickets?

March Madness ticket prices depend on a variety of factors, including match up, location, date, round and more. You'll usually find lower ticket prices during the earlier rounds, like the First Four and the First and Second Rounds.

Later rounds, like the Final Four and NCAA Championship Game, skew higher prices due to the severity of the game. Between the exciting storylines, Cinderella stories and diehard fanbases, the later rounds provide the most exhilarating March Madness gameplay.

Not sure which rounds you want to see in person? Or when to buy tickets? Click into any event listed above and click the heart icon at the top of that page to "track" the event. You'll receive notifications on price drops and changes, so you'll always have the most up-to-date information on March Madness ticket prices.

How can I get cheap NCAA March Madness tickets?

March Madness tickets typically start around $137. You'll likely find the lowest prices during the first few rounds of the tournament, as storylines are still developing. Ticket prices also depend on seat location, venue, date and a number of other factors. In most venues, you'll find the cheapest tickets in the 200- and 300-level sections.

Make sure to utilize SeatGeek's "Deal Score" to find the best deals on March Madness tickets. SeatGeek combines ticket price, seat location and a few other factors to determine how good of a deal you're getting on tickets. Click into the event you're looking to attend above and check out the Deal Scores.

What is a full strip ticket?

A full strip of tickets includes a ticket to each of the sessions hosted at that venue. For the first and second round locations, this would include tickets to the two afternoon session games, the two evening session games, and the two second round games in the third session. In the case of the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, a full strip would include tickets for the games at the location for both those rounds. In the case of the Final Four, a full strip includes tickets to the two semifinal games as well as the Championship game.

Unlike most sporting events, in the case of March Madness, many tickets include admission to more than a single game. In the First Round, Second Round, and Sweet 16, each session includes admission to back-to-back games. However, in the case of the First Round Session 1 tickets do not include admission to the games in Session 2, and vice versa, even though the games are on the same day.

What is a NCAA March Madness session ticket?

Since all of the March Madness venues host multiple games over multiple days, session tickets are often sold together as a package or split up.

"All session" tickets are the most straightforward, and give you access to all the games at that venue. Whether it is the First Four, the Final Four or one of the regional sites, when you buy an All Session ticket you are able to attend all of the games in that location.

"Session specific" tickets can be a little tricky, but we'll explain. Most fans end up opting for session specific tickets because they are focused on seeing their specific team. At the first and second round locations there are three different sessions, while at the regional locations there are two different sessions. The table below demonstrates what each session gets you access to:

First and Second Round Locations

Regional Locations

What teams are playing in NCAA March Madness?

Teams are decided on Selection Sunday, which will take place on March 15, 2026.