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Knowing who is playing in the NCAA Tournament is important. Knowing WHERE the teams are playing is almost just as important to determine which fans will likely pack an arena.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament will be played across 14 different cities over the course of three weeks. From Tampa, Florida, to Portland, Oregon, the action is spread across the country, with locations accessible to a large portion of the country.
On the first weekend of the tournament, eight arenas will host first and second-round games throughout the day. Then, the four cities hosting the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games will have more spaced-out games, as each team is inching closer to the Final Four.
The Sporting News covers where the 2026 NCAA Tournament is headed below.
Where is the NCAA Tournament in 2026?
Here is the complete list of 2026 NCAA Tournament locations from the First Four to the Final Four.
First Four
As always, the First Four will be played in Dayton, Ohio. These games kick off NCAA Tournament action on Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the Round of 64.
| Dayton, Ohio | University of Dayton Arena | March 17-18 |
Round 1-2
On Thursday, the Round of 64 will begin. Eight cities will host games on the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. The Round of 64 and Round of 32 games will be staggered from Thursday to Sunday.
| Buffalo, NY | KeyBank Center | March 19 & 21 | Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Canisius University Niagara University |
| Greenville, SC | Bon Secours Wellness Arena | March 19 & 21 | Furman Southern Conference |
| Oklahoma City, OK | Paycom Center | March 19 & 21 | Big 12 Conference |
| Portland, OR | Moda Center | March 19 & 21 | Oregon State University |
| Tampa, FL | Benchmark International Arena | March 20 & 22 | University of South Florida |
| Philadelphia, PA | Xfinity Mobile Arena | March 20 & 22 | Saint Joseph's University |
| San Diego, CA | Viejas Arena | March 20 & 22 | San Diego State University |
| St. Louis, MO | Enterprise Center | March 20 & 22 | Missouri Valley Conference |
Sweet 16, Elite Eight
Four cities will host Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games in the second weekend. These matchups will determine which teams win their respective regions and walk away with a Final Four bid.
| Houston, TX | Toyota Center | March 26 & 28 | Rice University |
| San Jose, CA | SAP Center | March 26 & 28 | San Jose State University |
| Chicago, IL | United Center | March 27 & 29 | Northwestern University |
| Washington, D.C. | Capital One Arena | March 27 & 29 | Georgetown University |
Where is the Final Four in 2026?
| Indianapolis, IN | Lucas Oil Stadium | April 4 & 6 |
For the first time since 2021, the Final Four will be returning to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. A couple of months after the NFL Combine was hosted here, its seats will be filled to watch who will be crowned champions of DI basketball. Indianapolis has hosted the Final Four eight times between 1980 and 2021.
In the 2021 final, Baylor defeated Gonzaga 86-70 in a battle of the No. 1 seeds. Prior to that, legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski won his fifth title at Duke, as the Blue Devils defeated the Wisconsin Badgers 68-63 in the championship game.
While Indianapolis has hosted the Women's Final Four three times (RCA Dome in 2005, Bankers Life Fieldhouse in 2011 and 2016), the home of the Indianapolis Colts has not. However, Lucas Oil Stadium is scheduled to host its first Women's Final Four in 2028.
Who will be crowned champions in Indianapolis this year?
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