The Road to Victory: Traversing the Men’s 2026 March Madness Venues

Every college basketball team enters March with one thing on their minds: cutting down the nets after winning an NCAA National Championship. March Madness is one of the most iconic sports events each year and the road that leads to the Final Four is a long and winding one. The NCAA Men’s basketball tournament showcases the best teams each season and also highlights some top-notch venues across the United States. Let’s take a look at the 2026 March Madness locations and when March Madness starts.

March Madness Schedule and Dates

This year’s tournament will begin midway through March. Selection Sunday is March 15, followed by the First Four games in Dayton, Ohio. The tournament will conclude on the Monday, April 6 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

First Four – March 17 and 18

The First Four games are played at UD Arena in Dayton. The First Four traditionally features two games between 16-seeds and two between 11-seeds. The winners advance into a regional later in the week.

University of Dayton Arena

The University of Dayton Arena has hosted more NCAA Tournament games than any other arena. It has been the home of the NCAA’s first games almost every year since 2001. UD Arena underwent mass renovations in 2020 and 2021 to accommodate events for years to come.

Field of 64: Rounds 1 & 2 – March 19 – 22

There are 32 games in the first round and 16 in the second round, taking place at eight venues across the country. The eight arenas are:

• Keybank Center in Buffalo, NY
• Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC
• Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK
• Moda Center in Portland, OR
• Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, FL
• Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, PA
• Viejas Arena in San Diego, CA
• Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO

Elite Eight: South Regional – March 26, 28

Both the Sweet Sixth and Elite Eight matchups in the South Regional will take place at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Toyota Center

The home of the NBA’s Houston Rockets, Toyota Center is one of the most well-known arenas in the Texas. The sports and entertainment venue has never hosted NCAA men’s tournament games before. It was supposed to host regional games for the 2020 tournament, but the event was canceled due to the  COVID-19 pandemic.

Elite Eight: West Regional – March 26, 28

The West Regional semifinals and final will take place at SAP Center in San Jose, California.

SAP Center

SAP Center is the home of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. It has hosted men’s tournament games in multiple rounds six different times..

Elite Eight: Midwest Regional – March 27, 29

The Midwest Regional third and fourth rounds will be held at United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

United Center

Home of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, United Center is an iconic midwest sporting arena. This year will be the seventh time the 23,100-seat arena has hosted March Madness.

Elite Eight: East Regional – March 27, 29

The East Regional semifinals and final will take place at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C.

Capital One Arena

Capital One Arena is home to the Washington Capitals of the NHL and the NBA’s Washington Wizards. It is a popular entertainment venue in D.C. and hosts numerous concerts and shows each year.

Final Four & Championship – April 4 and 6

The Final Four and championship games will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Lucas Oil Stadium

This will be the fourth time that the NCAA Men’s Final Four and title game will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium. Home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, Lucas Oil Stadium has hosted numerous notable events.