When Does March Madness 2027 Start?
Selection Sunday is March 14; the first games are March 16; the men's title game is April 5 in Detroit
Until March Madness 2027
Time left
123full days
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There are 124 days until March Madness 2027, counting today. That's 17 weeks and 5 days.
ClockMath is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). "March Madness" and related names are trademarks of their respective owners. Release date subject to change.
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Key facts
- Selection SundayMarch 14, 2027
- First gamesMarch 16 (men's), March 17 (women's)
- Men's Final FourApril 3 and 5, Ford Field, Detroit
- Women's Final FourApril 2 and 4, Columbus, Ohio
- Teams76 in each tournament (was 68)
About this countdown
March Madness 2027 is the first with 76 teams in each tournament, up from 68. The brackets are revealed on Selection Sunday, March 14, the men's tournament tips off with 12 Opening Round games on Tuesday, March 16, and it ends with the Final Four at Ford Field in Detroit on April 3 and 5. The women's Final Four is in Columbus, Ohio, on April 2 and 4. The countdown above runs to the first games; the table below has the days left until every round. Planning a watch party for a date that isn't listed? The days between dates calculator counts any gap.
March Madness 2027 dates
Every round of the 2027 tournaments, with the days left until each. Game times come out with the brackets on Selection Sunday.
| Event | When | Days left |
|---|---|---|
| Selection SundayBoth brackets revealed | Sun, Mar 14, 2027 | 122 days |
| Opening RoundMen's: 12 games, the new 76-team field | Tue, Mar 16 – Wed, Mar 17, 2027 | 124 days |
| First roundMen's round of 64 | Thu, Mar 18 – Fri, Mar 19, 2027 | 126 days |
| Second roundMen's round of 32 | Sat, Mar 20 – Sun, Mar 21, 2027 | 128 days |
| Sweet 16Men's regionals | Thu, Mar 25 – Fri, Mar 26, 2027 | 133 days |
| Elite EightMen's regional finals | Sat, Mar 27 – Sun, Mar 28, 2027 | 135 days |
| Women's Final FourNationwide Arena, Columbus | Fri, Apr 2, 2027 | 141 days |
| Men's Final FourFord Field, Detroit | Sat, Apr 3, 2027 | 142 days |
| Women's championship gameColumbus | Sun, Apr 4, 2027 | 143 days |
| Men's championship gameDetroit | Mon, Apr 5, 2027 | 144 days |
Days are counted to the start of each date in your own timezone. Women's rounds before the Final Four are a day later than the men's: Opening Round March 17–18, first round March 19–20, second round March 21–22. Source: NCAA.com, 2027 tournament schedules.
Questions
When does March Madness 2027 start?
The men's tournament starts with the Opening Round on Tuesday, March 16, 2027, two days after Selection Sunday (March 14). The first round of 64 is Thursday and Friday, March 18 and 19. The women's tournament starts a day later, on March 17.
When is Selection Sunday 2027?
Sunday, March 14, 2027. Both the men’s and women’s brackets are revealed that day.
When and where is the 2027 Final Four?
The men's Final Four is at Ford Field in Detroit: the semifinals on Saturday, April 3 and the national championship game on Monday, April 5, 2027. The women's Final Four is at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, April 2 and Sunday, April 4.
How many teams are in the 2027 NCAA tournament?
76 in each of the men’s and women’s tournaments, up from 68. The NCAA announced the expansion on May 7, 2026. The extra teams play 12 Opening Round games for places in the round of 64.
How many days until the Final Four?
The men's Final Four starts on Saturday, April 3, 2027 and the women's on Friday, April 2. The dates table on this page gives the days left until each, updated daily.
What time do the March Madness games start?
Tip-off times are set after the brackets are revealed on Selection Sunday, March 14. Early-round games run from about noon to midnight Eastern on each game day.