NCAA Tournament tickets in San Diego: March Madness 2026 guide for Viejas Arena

Let's go to the beach. San Diego is the place to be when the NCAA Tournament kicks off as the California city hosts first and second round games at Viejas Arena.

Located on San Diego State's campus, Viejas Arena is just minutes away from every sight you could want, from surfing at the beach to hiking up the mountains.

BUY NOW: Get tickets to March Madness San Diego games on StubHub

This portion of the bracket is set to be one of the most exciting, and the early stages of the tournament are always madness.

If you want to see it all unfold live, here's how you can get tickets to the NCAA Tournament games at San Diego's Viejas Arena.

How to buy NCAA Tournament tickets in San Diego

• Tickets: StubHub

Tickets to NCAA Tournament games in San Diego are available now on StubHub!

Three total sessions will be played at Viejas Arena on March 20 and 22. Passes are available as single-session and all-session passes. An all-sessions ticket currently costs $540. Session 1 costs $150, Session 2 $220 and Session 3 $300.

Click the link below to view the latest costs and availability.

BUY NOW: Prices for first and second round NCAA basketball games at Viejas Arena

Which teams are playing in San Diego?

• First-round game 1: TBD
• First-round game 2: TBD
• First-round game 3: TBD
• First-round game 4: TBD
• Second-round game 1: Winner of G1 and G2
• Second-round game 2: Winner of G3 and G4

March Madness has arrived at Viejas Arena.

The first four games will be played Friday, March 20. Session 1 will feature the first two matchups while Session 2 will include games 3 and 4.

Sunday, March 22 will feature both second-round games in Session 3.

Why Viejas Arena is a strong March Madness stop

Who doesn't want to go to San Diego?

While Viejas Arena isn't exactly on the beach, there's still plenty to explore. The venue sits on campus of San Diego State, so visitors can explore SDSU or catch a baseball game before March Madness tip off.

Even then, San Diego is filled with breathtaking sights that are within driving distance. From the SDSU campus, the beach in 10 miles away, downtown is 10 miles, the mountains are 50 miles and the deserts are 75 miles. All of it is visible during a California trip for the NCAA Tournament.

Viejas Arena may be small with a capacity of only 12,400, but it sure is mighty when packed for postseason basketball. That's why the NCAA keeps coming back to it, 2026 marking the sixth NCAA Tournament in San Diego.

What to know before you go

Ready for basketball? There's a few things to note before heading to Viejas Arena.

Plenty of SDSU lots and garages are available for parking at the facility. It is recommended to purchase passes in advance, and you can do so on StubHub by clicking the "parking" tab at the top of the page.

Doors open about an hour before tipoff, and mobile tickets are used for easy entry. Once scanned, patrons can not leave and re-enter the arena.

Viejas Arena is a clear bag venue, so bags must be clear and no larger than 12"x6"x12" with the exception of medical and diaper bags. Non-clear clutches and small purses may be up to 4.5"x6.5" in size. All bags are subject to search upon entry.

Additionally, the arena is a cashless venue. Those wishing to transform their cash into a pre-paid card can do so at the no-fee kiosks by the ticket office.