NCAA Confirms 68-Team Format for 2026 March Madness Tournaments: Expansion to 72 or 76 Teams Still Under Consideration

The 2026 edition of March Madness will maintain its current team count.

The NCAA has decided to keep 68 teams for both the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments this season, although discussions about potential expansion in future years are ongoing.

Dan Gavitt, the NCAA’s senior vice president of basketball, stated, “Expanding the tournament fields is no longer being considered for the 2026 men’s and women’s basketball championships. However, the committees will continue conversations on whether to recommend expanding to 72 or 76 teams in advance of the 2027 championships.”

Spring NCAA president Charlie Baker has shown interest in expansion, hoping for a decision to be made within a few months.

The first NCAA men’s basketball tournament in 1939 featured eight teams. It increased to 16 teams in 1951 and 32 teams in 1975 before doubling to 64 teams in 1985. An opening-round game was added in 2001, followed by the introduction of three more games in 2011, resulting in a 68-team field. The women’s tournament started with a 32-team field in 1982 and transitioned to a 64-team format in 1994. The current 68-team format has been in place since 2022.

The 2026 Men’s Final Four will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, while the event moves to Ford Field in Detroit in 2027. The NCAA women’s Final Four in 2026 will be held in Phoenix at PHX Arena, with Columbus, Ohio, hosting in 2027 at Nationwide Arena.