Selection Sunday 2026: Start Time, NCAA Selection Show & March Madness Schedule

What Is Selection Sunday 2026?

Selection Sunday is one of the most exciting days in college sports, marking the official start of NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. On this day, the NCAA selection committee reveals the 68-team bracket for the annual March Madness, determining the teams, seeds, and matchups for the national championship race.

Fans across the United States tune in to the NCAA selection show to see which teams have earned a spot in the tournament and which programs will begin their journey toward the Final Four.

When Does Selection Sunday 2026 Start?

The 2026 NCAA Selection Sunday takes place on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The official NCAA selection show begins at:

• 6:00 PM ET (Eastern Time)

• Broadcast live on CBS

• Available for streaming via Paramount+ and other platforms.

This show reveals the full tournament bracket for the NCAA basketball tournament, including the seedings and matchups for all 68 teams.

For fans asking “what time does Selection Sunday start?” or “what time is Selection Sunday for March Madness?”, the answer is 6 PM ET on CBS.

What Happens During the NCAA Selection Show?

During the NCAA Selection Show, the tournament committee announces:

• The 68 teams in the tournament

• 31 automatic qualifiers (conference champions)

• 37 at-large teams selected by the committee

• Regional placements and seedings

• First-round matchups

The broadcast also includes expert analysis, bracket predictions, and reactions from teams waiting to see if they made the tournament.

For many fans, Selection Sunday is the moment when March Madness truly begins.

March Madness Schedule 2026

After Selection Sunday 2026, the tournament begins just two days later. The official March Madness schedule includes:

• Selection Sunday: March 15, 2026

• 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: April 4

• National Championship: April 6

The First Four games determine the final spots in the 64-team main bracket before the tournament progresses toward the championship.

Why Selection Sunday Matters in College Basketball

For teams across NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball, Selection Sunday is the culmination of an entire season. Programs that win their conference tournaments secure automatic bids, while others hope their season résumé is strong enough to earn an at-large selection.

The day also sparks millions of fans to create brackets, predict winners, and follow the excitement of college basketball’s biggest tournament.

College Basketball Today: The Road to March Madness

Leading up to Selection Sunday 2026, conference tournaments determine which teams automatically qualify for the NCAA tournament. Bubble teams anxiously wait to see whether they will make the field or miss out on the basketball tournament entirely.

Once the bracket is revealed, the focus shifts to the games themselves—where underdogs often upset top seeds and new college basketball legends are created.