March Madness Dates 2027 at a Glance
The men's tournament runs from Selection Sunday on March 14 to the championship game on April 5, charting the path for top contenders like Purdue and tournament hopefuls across the nation. The table lists every round with its weekdays and game count.
| Round | Dates | Weekdays | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | March 14 | Sunday | Bracket reveal |
| Opening Round | March 16-17 | Tuesday-Wednesday | 12 |
| First Round | March 18-19 | Thursday-Friday | 32 |
| Second Round | March 20-21 | Saturday-Sunday | 16 |
| Sweet 16 | March 25-26 | Thursday-Friday | 8 |
| Elite Eight | March 27-28 | Saturday-Sunday | 4 |
| Final Four | April 3 | Saturday | 2 |
| National championship game | April 5 | Monday | 1 (Title Game) |
All dates follow the US calendar. The NCAA has not set tip-off times yet. See the full March Madness schedule and the printable schedule.
Quick Answers to the Most Common Date Questions
Tuesday, March 16, 2027. It is an Opening Round game, and the date is the same for the NCAA tournament's first game.
In Dayton, Ohio (UD Arena) or Wichita, Kansas (INTRUST Bank Arena). Each city hosts three games a day.
Games begin on March 16. Selection Sunday, March 14, comes two days earlier and is the bracket reveal, not a game day.
The title game is on Monday, April 5, 2027, in Detroit at Ford Field.
Only on March 16 and 17 for the Opening Round, and every game day after that. See March Madness games today during the tournament.
What Is Different in 2027: The 76-Team Field and Opening Round
The 2027 tournament is the first with 76 teams, up from 68. The NCAA announced the expansion on May 7, 2026, for both the men's and women's tournaments. The field has 32 automatic qualifiers and 44 at-large teams.
The Opening Round replaces the First Four. It raises the number of games before the main bracket from 4 to 12 and the number of teams from 8 to 24. The 24 teams are the 12 lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the 12 lowest-seeded at-large teams, and the 12 winners join the 64-team First Round.
Six games are played on each of the two days, March 16 and 17. Dayton and Wichita each host three games per day. Wichita is the Opening Round host for 2027 and 2028.
Many fans still say "First Four", so the old name is common in searches, but the official 2027 name is the Opening Round. The 12 games fit the same Tuesday-Wednesday slot the First Four used, so the calendar keeps its familiar shape. For more details on the expansion, read our tournament breakdown on the Opening Round and how the 76-team format works.
March Madness 2027 Schedule Week by Week
March Madness starts with Selection Sunday on March 14, and the first game is on Tuesday, March 16. Voice-search questions such as "when does March Madness start?" get the same answer: March 16, 2027. Games are played in Thursday-to-Sunday blocks, with a gap week between the Second Round and the Sweet 16.
Selection Sunday and Opening Round (March 14 to 17)
Selection Sunday on March 14 sets the 76-team field, the seeds and the regions. The first games follow two days later, on Tuesday, March 16, and the Opening Round continues on Wednesday, March 17. March 16 is also the date fans should use when they ask about the start of the NCAA tournament.
The First Weekend (March 18 to 21)
The First Round is played on Thursday, March 18, and Friday, March 19, with 32 games. The Second Round is on Saturday, March 20, and Sunday, March 21, with 16 games. Eight cities host these rounds in two groups. Four sites play on March 18 and 20, and four play on March 19 and 21.
The Second Weekend & Final Four (March 25 to April 5)
The Sweet 16 is played on Thursday, March 25, and Friday, March 26. The Elite Eight follows on Saturday, March 27, and Sunday, March 28. Four regional sites host these 12 games. The Final Four is on Saturday, April 3, and the championship game is on Monday, April 5, both at Ford Field in Detroit.
How Long Is March Madness 2027 and How Many Games Are Played?
The tournament runs for 21 days, from the first Opening Round game on March 16 to the championship game on April 5. If you count Selection Sunday on March 14, the whole event spans 23 days.
The men's tournament has 75 games in total. Games are played on only 12 days, which is why the calendar has so many gaps.
| Round | Dates | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Round | March 16 and 17 | 12 |
| First Round | March 18 and 19 | 32 |
| Second Round | March 20 and 21 | 16 |
| Sweet 16 | March 25 and 26 | 8 |
| Elite Eight | March 27 and 28 | 4 |
| Final Four | April 3 | 2 |
| National Championship | April 5 | 1 |
| Total | 12 game days | 75 |
The 12 game days are March 16 to 21, March 25 to 28, April 3 and April 5.
Where Is March Madness 2027 Being Played?
The men's tournament uses 2 Opening Round sites, 8 First and Second Round sites, 4 regional sites and 1 Final Four site.
Opening Round Sites (March 16 and 17)
| Site | Games per day |
|---|---|
| UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio | 3 |
| INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, Kansas | 3 |
First and Second Round Sites
| Host city | First Round | Second Round |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | March 18 | March 20 |
| Omaha, Nebraska | March 18 | March 20 |
| Fort Worth, Texas | March 18 | March 20 |
| Spokane, Washington | March 18 | March 20 |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | March 19 | March 21 |
| Minneapolis, Minnesota | March 19 | March 21 |
| Louisville, Kentucky | March 19 | March 21 |
| Sacramento, California | March 19 | March 21 |
Regional Sites (Sweet 16 and Elite Eight)
| Region | Venue | City | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| South | Frost Bank Center | San Antonio, Texas | March 25 and 27 |
| West | Crypto.com Arena | Los Angeles, California | March 25 and 27 |
| Midwest | T-Mobile Center | Kansas City, Missouri | March 26 and 28 |
| East | Madison Square Garden | New York, New York | March 26 and 28 |
Final Four Site (April 3 and 5)
Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, hosts both the Final Four and the national championship game. Michigan State is the host school. See our championship game guide and complete host cities guide for travel and venue details.
Selection Sunday and the Bracket (March 14)
Selection Sunday is on March 14, 2027, two days before the first game. The selection committee announces the 76 teams, their seeds and the four regions on that day. Check back for Selection Sunday show times and CBS broadcast schedules, and download the printable bracket page once the tournament field is set.
Women's March Madness 2027 Dates
The women's tournament also has 76 teams and starts one day after the men's. The Final Four is in Columbus, Ohio.
| Round | Dates |
|---|---|
| Opening Round | March 17 and 18 |
| First Round | March 19 and 20 |
| Second Round | March 21 and 22 |
| Sweet 16 | March 26 and 27 |
| Elite Eight | March 28 and 29 |
| Final Four | April 2 |
| National Championship | April 4 |
The Final Four and championship game are played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. The regional sites are Philadelphia and Las Vegas. For the full women's schedule, visit our women's March Madness schedule section.
Where to Watch, Tickets and Common Date Mix-Ups
Game times and TV channels for each round are announced after Selection Sunday. Use our TV schedule for channels and the live stream guide for streaming options across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV.
Three date mix-ups come up often:
-
1
First Four vs Opening Round: The 2027 official name is the Opening Round, and it expands to 12 games, not 4.
-
2
No games on March 22 to 24: Men's teams rest between the Second Round and the Sweet 16, so the next games resume on March 25.
-
3
No games from March 29 to April 2: There is a 5-day pause between the Elite Eight and the Final Four on April 3.
Women's dates are one day different from the men's in most rounds, so check the correct table before you plan.
Still to be announced: Tip-off times, TV assignments and the women's First and Second Round host sites.
March Madness 2027 Dates FAQ
When does March Madness 2027 start?
The first game is on Tuesday, March 16, 2027. Selection Sunday is two days earlier, on March 14.
When is the March Madness 2027 championship game?
The men's national championship game is on Monday, April 5, 2027, at Ford Field in Detroit. The women's title game is on April 4 in Columbus.
When is the Final Four in 2027?
The men's Final Four is on Saturday, April 3, in Detroit. The women's Final Four is on April 2 in Columbus.
When is the Sweet 16?
The men's Sweet 16 is on March 25 and 26. The Elite Eight follows on March 27 and 28.
How many teams are in March Madness 2027?
There are 76 teams in each tournament, up from 68. Twelve Opening Round games replace the four First Four games.
Conclusion
March Madness 2027 runs from the Opening Round on March 16 to the championship game on April 5, with Selection Sunday on March 14. Save the date table at the top of this page and check back after Selection Sunday for game times and TV channels.
March Madness 2027 schedule