The 2026 NCAA March Madness tournament is now underway, captivating basketball fans across the country with thrilling games and high-stakes matchups. Nearly a year after the Florida Gators claimed the men's basketball championship and the UConn Huskies secured the women's title, both teams have returned as top seeds in this year’s tournament. The Gators share the No. 1 seed in the men’s bracket alongside Duke, Michigan, and Arizona, while the women’s bracket features the Huskies as one of the top four seeds along with Texas, South Carolina, and UCLA.
As the tournament progresses, the men’s competition has already seen some surprising early exits, with teams like BYU and Wisconsin being knocked out during the First Round. In contrast, the women’s tournament has remained largely predictable so far, with no major upsets through the First Round, which continues through Saturday. The women’s Second Round is set to begin on Sunday.
For fans eager to catch every moment, here's a detailed guide on when and where to watch the remaining rounds of March Madness, including information on broadcast channels, streaming options, and subscription services.
### Tournament Schedule and Broadcast Details
March Madness 2026 kicked off on Tuesday, March 17, with the men's First Four games. The women’s First Four followed on Wednesday, March 18, and Thursday, March 19. The tournament will continue throughout March, culminating in the women’s championship final on April 5 and the men’s championship final on April 6.
The women’s games will be broadcast across multiple ESPN channels, including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPNews. The women’s First Four games specifically are available on ESPN2 and via ESPN’s standalone streaming service, ESPN Unlimited.
Men’s games are spread across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. The men’s First Four games can be streamed on truTV through HBO Max.
### Streaming Services and Viewing Options
For viewers who prefer streaming, there are several options available, many of which offer free trials for new subscribers:
- **ESPN Unlimited**: This service offers comprehensive coverage of the women’s March Madness tournament. For $30 per month, subscribers can watch every women’s game streamed in one place. ESPN Unlimited is particularly useful for fans who want to catch all the women’s tournament action without channel-hopping.
- **HBO Max**: HBO Max streams 46 men’s tournament games, including the Final Four and Championship Final. A standout feature is the multiview option, allowing viewers to watch up to three games simultaneously, which is perfect for fans wanting to keep up with multiple matchups. Live sports streaming is available on HBO Max’s Standard plan ($18.50/month) and Premium plan ($23/month).
- **Paramount Plus**: Select men’s games from the First Round through the Elite Eight will be broadcast on CBS, which streams via Paramount Plus Premium. The subscription usually costs $14 per month, but there is a special offer running through March 31 where new and some returning customers can subscribe for $3 a month for the first two months.
### Watching Both Men’s and Women’s Tournaments
For those who want to watch both the men’s and women’s tournaments without juggling multiple streaming apps, several live TV streaming services offer nearly all the channels broadcasting the games:
- **YouTube TV**: Costing $83 per month, YouTube TV includes CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV for the men’s tournament, and all ESPN channels for the women’s tournament. There is currently a promotional offer of $60 per month for the first two months, along with a 21-day free trial. YouTube TV also allows viewers to input their ZIP code to confirm availability of local channels.
- **Hulu + Live TV**: Priced at $90 per month, Hulu’s live TV package includes all necessary channels for both tournaments, spanning CBS, ABC, ESPN networks, TBS, TNT, and truTV. Hulu’s live news page allows users to check local channel availability by ZIP code.
- **DirecTV Stream (MySports package)**: At $70 per month, this package offers one of the most comprehensive channel lineups, including ABC, CBS, ESPN Unlimited, TBS, TNT, and truTV. A channel lookup tool helps subscribers verify local channel availability.
- **Fubo Sports Package**: Starting at $46 for the first month after a