When does March Madness start?
The games start on Tuesday, March 16, 2027, with the First Four. The main bracket starts two days later, on Thursday, March 18.
Games start Tuesday, March 16, 2027. The title game is Monday, April 5, in Detroit.
The days before the games
The field is named on Selection Sunday, March 14, 2027.
Each team learns its seed and its first game that night.
Brackets open right after the show.
You have about three days before the first round.
The first week, day by day
| Day | Date |
|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | Sunday, March 14 |
| First Four | Tuesday and Wednesday, March 16-17 |
| First round | Thursday and Friday, March 18-19 |
| Second round | Saturday and Sunday, March 20-21 |
What is played first? Read what the First Four is.
When to fill in your bracket
Start on Sunday night, March 14, when the field is named.
Pools lock before the first round starts on March 18.
You pick the winners of the 63 main-bracket games.
Your team, your upsets, your calls.
How long it runs
The tournament runs about three weeks.
It starts March 16 and ends Monday, April 5.
The Final Four is Saturday, April 3, in Detroit.
The title game follows on Monday, April 5, also in Detroit.
Five questions start your bracket. Your picks finish it.
Our picker opens on Selection Sunday, March 14, 2027. Five answers start your bracket. You name your team and your upsets, and you can flip any pick.
Common questions
When does March Madness start in 2027?
March Madness starts on Tuesday, March 16, 2027, with the First Four. The main bracket, the first round of 64 teams, starts on Thursday, March 18, 2027.
When is the field announced?
The field is announced on Selection Sunday, March 14, 2027. Each team learns its seed and its first game that evening, and brackets open right after the show.
When does March Madness end in 2027?
The tournament ends with the title game on Monday, April 5, 2027, in Detroit. The Final Four semifinals are two days earlier, on Saturday, April 3.
More bracket basics
- What is the First Four?
- How does March Madness work?
- What is the Final Four?
- How to fill out a March Madness bracket
- What is a March Madness bracket?
- How does bracket scoring work?
- When is Selection Sunday 2027?
- How many teams are in March Madness?
- What is March Madness?
- What is a seed in March Madness?
- How many games are in March Madness?
- How many rounds are in March Madness?
- What is the Final Four?
- How long does March Madness last?
- When is the Final Four in 2027?
Make your calls on the eight matchups waiting on the home page.