It's once again one of the most exciting times of the year with the return of March Madness. One of the most important annual sporting events returns, with 134 games in the entire men's and women's tournament. This time everything is on Disney+ too!
What is March Madness?
March Madness is a single-elimination men's and women's basketball tournament that brings together the best men's and women's college basketball teams in the country. There's Selection Sunday, when teams find out which side of the knockout bracket they're on, followed by the corresponding rounds, which include Sweet 16 (the last 16 teams), elite eight and Final four before concluding with the NCAA men's championship game on April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, home of the NFL team, the Indianapolis Colts. The women's final, on April 5, will take place at the Mortgage Matchup Center, home of the NBA's Phoenix Suns.
When did March Madness start?
The first men's tournament in history was held in 1939 and was held every year until the 2019-20 season. The event was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. In 1939 it started with only eight teams, before reaching 16 in 1951; It continued to expand until 1985 until it reached 64 teams, which is the format we have now. The women began in 1982 with 32 inaugural teams; There are now 68 teams for the 2026 event.
What happened last year?
2025 had some of the smallest upsets in NCAA men's tournament history, as no top-four seed lost in the first round. The men's final was won by Florida, which beat Houston 65-63, to claim its third title, and first since 2007. In the women's tournament, the UConn Huskies claimed their 12th title by beating South Carolina in a 78-79 victory.
Who will win this year?
The Duke Blue Devils appear to be the team to beat and are the favorites in the men's tournament. They have also knocked Kansas, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan State and Michigan out of the conference this season. If you look outside of Duke, the teams to watch will be Michigan and Arizona. Florida cannot be ruled out to win consecutive tournaments either.
In the women's tournament, some teams will compete. South Carolina, UConn and Texas look good. The outsiders could very well be Notre Dame, UCLA and USC.
Don't forget your support!
Brackets are a big part of March Madness. Here you can make all your picks for each game and see how your predictions turn out. Compete with friends and family to prove your skills! Create or join a group now!
ESPN Men's Tournament Challenge: Make Picks
ESPN Women's Tournament Challenge: Make Choices
Where can I read more about March Madness?
ESPN, of course. Joe Lunardi's Bracketology follows the field's current projection, while Neil Paine bubble clock predicts the state of the bubble.
If you want to do some pre-tournament research, we've got you covered too. We handed out some men's college basketball awards for selections, season superlatives and more. We've taken a look at the contenders, stars and stories to watch during the month of March.
how to watch
In South Africa, Disney+ will bring you the action of select games live throughout the men's and women's tournament. The games will also stream on Disney+ in the Philippines, the UK and Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
In sub-Saharan Africa, you can catch the action on ESPN channels on DStv (218 and 219) and local network affiliates.
Key details including start times and locations.
End time: Men's final will take place on April 7 (01:50 a.m.), women's final on April 6 (02:20 a.m.)
Location: Various locations in the United States
For complete dates, times and more, you can go here.
