March Madness has arrived. Now that the men’s brackets have been revealed, it’s time to build your own bracket for the 2026 men’s NCAA basketball tournament — and get ready to watch. Just like last year, the two tournaments (men’s and women’s) are spread across a range of channels, so if you’re looking for how to watch March Madness, Yahoo Sports has you
covered. Here’s everything you need to know about watching the men’s NCAA basketball tournament live this week, from the First Four games all the way to the championship.
How to watch men’s March Madness 2026
Dates: March 17 – April 6, 2026
TV channels: CBS, TBS, TNT, TruTV
Streaming: Paramount+, DirecTV and more
When does March Madness start?
The men’s NCAA tournament games tip off with the First Four on Tuesday, March 17. The women’s side will tip off on Wednesday, March 18.
When does March Madness end?
The men’s NCAA basketball tournament concludes with the championship game on Monday, April 6, 2026.
What channel is March Madness on in 2026?
Games in the men’s NCAA tournament will air across CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV. The women’s NCAA tournament will air across the ESPN suite — ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews and ABC.
Don’t have cable? Don’t worry. You can stream the men’s games easily with a subscription to Paramount+ Premium and HBO Max Standard, or a live-TV streaming service like DirecTV, Fubo or Sling. The women’s games will be accessible via an ESPN Unlimited subscription (or any live-TV streaming service that includes the ESPN suite).
March Madness men’s First Four schedule:
Tuesday, March 17
Game 1 No. 11 NC State vs. No. 11 Texas: TBD (truTV)
Game 2 No. 16 UMBC vs. No. 16 Howard | TBD (truTV)
Wednesday, March 18
Game 1 No. 11 Miami (OH) vs. SMU: TBD (truTV)
Game 2 No. 16 Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh: TBD (truTV)