Every March, college basketball fans across the country get swept up in one of the most exciting sporting events of the year: the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, also known as March Madness.

The reason it’s called March “Madness”?

It’s single-elimination, so lose once and you’re out. That creates intense, high-stakes drama every game. Teams are seeded from 1 to 16 in four regions, forming a giant bracket where fans fill out prediction brackets and compete with family, friends, classmates, and coworkers.

Underdogs knocking off powerhouse teams are called “Cinderella stories.” These are basically March Madness traditions, but some years have fewer upsets than others.

The tournament starts off with Selection Sunday, the day the 68 teams are announced and the bracket is revealed, and then it ends with the National Championship about three weeks later.

The 2026 Tournaments

Here’s the 2026 March Madness timeline for the men’s tournament:

Selection Sunday: March 15

First Four: March 17–18

First Round: March 19–20

Second Round: March 21–22

Sweet 16: March 26–27

Elite Eight: March 28–29

Final Four & National Championship: April 4 & 6

The 2026 Women’s tournament timeline:

Selection Sunday: March 15

First Four: March 18–19

First Round: March 20–21

Second Round: March 22–23

Fort Worth Regional: March 27–30

Sacramento Regional: March 27–30

Final Four & National Championship: April 3 & 5

All games except the Final Four are played in regional sites across the country, not just in a single city. So while LSU is home to passionate fans, there won’t be official men’s or women’s March Madness games at LSU or in Baton Rouge.

How It’s Broadcast

Games are split across major networks like CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV for the men’s tournament, with the most important games in primetime. Fans can also stream games on apps like March Madness Live and through streaming services that carry those networks. Whether you’re in the arena or watching at home, it’s easy to catch every game you want to see.

What Makes It So Fun

Bracket challenges: Millions of fans fill out brackets trying to predict every winner, even though a perfect bracket has basically never happened.

Upsets & Cinderella stories: A lower-seeded team knocking out the favorite always leaves viewers shocked.

College pride: Schools from big conferences and smaller ones all get a chance to shine.

Final Take

March Madness isn’t just basketball — it’s a nationwide event. From thrilling buzzer-beaters to bracket betting, it’s one of the most anticipated sporting events every year. In 2026, the biggest games of the tournament take place around the country and conclude in Indianapolis.

Although this tournament isn’t in Baton Rouge, you still have a chance to catch NCAA postseason action in gymnastics at LSU, which makes this spring extra exciting locally.