The 2025 March Madness schedule kicks off with Selection Sunday on March 16, followed by the First Four games on March 18-19 at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. Fans eagerly await the intense competition that defines this annual college basketball tournament.
The tournament culminates with the championship game at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on April 7. Below, readers will find the complete list of dates and locations for this year’s March Madness events.
March Madness Schedule
- Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 16
- First Four: March 18-19
- First Round: March 20-21
- Second Round: March 22-23
- Sweet 16: March 27-28
- Elite Eight: March 29-30
- Final Four: Saturday, April 5 (Alamodome in San Antonio, TX)
- NCAA Championship Game: Monday, April 7 (Alamodome in San Antonio, TX)
March Madness Locations and Sites
First Four
First Round (Round of 64)
- Rupp Arena – Lexington
- Amica Mutual Pavilion – Providence
- Intrust Bank Arena – Wichita
- Ball Arena – Denver
- Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle
- Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse – Cleveland
- Fiserv Forum – Milwaukee
- PNC Arena – Raleigh
Second Round (Round of 32)
- Rupp Arena – Lexington
- Amica Mutual Pavilion – Providence
- Intrust Bank Arena – Wichita
- Ball Arena – Denver
- Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle
- Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse – Cleveland
- Fiserv Forum – Milwaukee
- PNC Arena – Raleigh
Sweet 16
- Prudential Center – Newark
- Chase Center – San Francisco
- State Farm Arena – Atlanta
- Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis
Elite Eight
- Prudential Center – Newark
- Chase Center – San Francisco
- State Farm Arena – Atlanta
- Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis
Final Four and National Championship
How to Watch March Madness 2025
When is Selection Sunday?
March Madness coverage begins with Selection Sunday on March 16 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS, where teams will learn their fate in the tournament.
When does March Madness start?
The NCAA tournament officially starts with the First Four on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, setting the stage for a month of thrilling basketball.
What channel is March Madness on?
March Madness will be broadcast across four major networks: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. Viewers can also stream the games on Paramount+.
How can I stream March Madness?
Fans can stream March Madness on Paramount+ and through any service that provides access to CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, including YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV.
How can I watch March Madness for free?
Many March Madness games will air on local CBS affiliates. With a digital antenna, viewers can catch these games without needing a cable or streaming subscription.
For those interested in women’s basketball, details about the 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament can be found in the Women’s March Madness guide.
