2026 NCAA Venue Guide for the Men's and Women's Tournament

Welcome to our Venue Guide for the 2026 NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament

Went through every venue hosting this year and tallied each time they’ve hosted a portions of the men’s and women’s tournaments and made handy sortable tables to house the information.

The University of Dayton has been hosting the Buy-In portion of the Men's Tournament since 2001. In Dayton, the eight lowest seeded teams (four at-large and four qualifying) will play and the winners will advance to the First and Second Rounds. These games will be played on March 17th and 18th.

The Women's First Four buy-in tournament is played at four home courts of the top-16 seeded teams. These games will be played on March 18th and 19th.

2026 Venues	(M) First Four	(M) 1st and 2nd Rounds	(M) Sweet 16 and Elite 8	(M) Final Four and Championship	(W) Sweet 16 and Elite 8	(W) Final Four and Championship
Dayton Arena	252001 - Present	5 2013, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1995	0	0	52011, 2010, 2007, 2003, 1998	0

The below venues are hosting this years First and Second Rounds of the Men's Tournament that are played March 19th-22nd.

For the Women's Tournament this round's games are being hosted by the other 12, of the 16, top-seeded teams and will be played on March 20th-23rd.

2026 Venues	(M) First Four	(M) 1st and 2nd Rounds	(M) Sweet 16 and Elite 8	(M) Final Four and Championship	(W) Sweet 16 and Elite 8	(W) Final Four and Championship
KeyBank Center	0	82026, 2022, 2017, 2014, 2010, 2007, 2004, 2000	0	0	0	0
Benchmark International Arena	0	42026, 2011, 2008, 2003		0	0	42025, 2019, 2015, 2008
Xfinity Mobile Arena	0	42026, 2013, 2009, 2006	32022, 2016, 2001	0	0	12000
Moda Center	0	52026, 2022, 2015, 2012, 2009	0	0	22024, 2019	0
Viejas Arena	0	62026, 2022, 2018, 2014, 2006, 2001	0	0	0	0
Paycom Center	0	52026, 2016, 2010, 2005, 2003	0	0	0	0
Bon Secours Wellness Arena	0	42026, 2022, 2017, 2002	0	0	12023	0
Enterprise Center	0	32026, 2016, 2014	11998	0	0	0

This next set of venues are hosting the 2026 Men's and Women's Regional Semi-Finals and Finals or more commonly referred to as the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 Tournaments.

The Men's games will be played March 26th-29th and the Women's games will be played March 27th through March 30th.

2026 Venues	(M) First Four	(M) 1st and 2nd Rounds	(M) Sweet 16 and Elite 8	(M) Final Four and Championship	(W) Sweet 16 and Elite 8	(W) Final Four and Championship
SAP Center	0	32019, 2013, 2010	52026, 2017, 2007, 2002, 1997	0	0	11999
Capital One Arena	0	42011, 2008, 2002, 1998	42026, 2019, 2013, 2006	0	0	0
United Center	0	42011, 2007, 2002, 1998	32026, 2022, 2016	0	0	0
Golden 1 Center	0	22023, 2017	0	0	12026	0
Dickies Arena	0	12022	0	0	12026	0
Toyota Center	0	0	12026	0	0	0

These two venues will be hosting the Men's or Women's Final Four and Championship Games.

The Women's games will be played in Phoenix on April 3rd and April 5th. The Men's games will be held in Indianapolis on April 4th and 6th.

2026 Venues	(M) First Four	(M) 1st and 2nd Rounds	(M) Sweet 16 and Elite 8	(M) Final Four and Championship	(W) Sweet 16 and Elite 8	(W) Final Four and Championship
Lucas Oil Stadium	0	12021	52025, 2021, 2014, 2013, 2009	42026, 2021, 2015, 2010	0	0
Mortgage Matchup Center	0	0	42012, 2008, 2004, 1999	0	0	12026