The excitement surrounding March Madness is reaching a fever pitch as the highly awaited Final Four and National Championship games for both men’s and women’s basketball are set to take centre stage from April 3 to April 6, 2026. This year’s NCAA Division I tournament has delivered an abundance of thrilling moments, including a number of unexpected upsets and nail-biting finishes, and now only the top four teams in each category remain in contention for the championship titles.
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In the men’s tournament, the University of Illinois is slated to clash with the University of Connecticut in one of the Final Four matches. UConn commanded attention after an incredible performance in the Elite Eight, where they secured their spot in the Final Four with a stunning buzzer-beater that saw them defeat Duke. Meanwhile, Illinois, who have yet to clinch a national title, earned their place by overcoming the Iowa Hawkeyes.
On the other side of the men’s bracket, the remaining two No. 1 seeds, the University of Arizona and the University of Michigan, also vie for a place in the final. Michigan overcame the Tennessee Volunteers to reach this point, while Arizona demonstrated excellence by eliminating Purdue. Notably, both Michigan and Arizona have only one championship win to their name, with Michigan’s triumph dating back to 1989 and Arizona’s victory coming in 1997.
The women’s Final Four features an all-star line-up of teams that are all ranked as No. 1 seeds. The premier matchup will witness a rematch between the University of South Carolina and the University of Connecticut. These two teams have faced off in previous championships, with UConn emerging victorious in 2025 while South Carolina claimed the title in 2022. Each team boasts impressive credentials, with UConn holding a record of 12 national titles, while South Carolina has captured the championship three times.
In the other women’s semifinal, the University of Texas at Austin will go head-to-head with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Texas has previously tasted victory in the tournament back in 1986, while UCLA is yet to secure a championship title. The two teams encountered each other earlier in the season, where Texas achieved an 11-point win over the Bruins.
The schedules for the Final Four games differ for the men’s and women’s tournaments. The men’s first semifinal will take place on Saturday, April 4, at 6:09 PM ET in Indianapolis, Indiana, when UConn faces Illinois. This will be followed by the showdown between Arizona and Michigan at around 8:49 PM ET. The winners will advance to the National Championship on Monday, April 6, at 8:30 PM ET.
Conversely, the women’s semifinal games are one day earlier, on April 3. The UConn versus South Carolina match will kick off at 7 PM ET, ahead of the Texas versus UCLA game at approximately 9:30 PM ET. The championship for the women’s teams is scheduled for Sunday, April 5, at 3:30 PM ET.
Those eager to catch the action can find the men’s Final Four games and National Championship on TBS, TNT, and TruTV. For those without cable subscriptions, they will also be accessible for streaming on platforms such as the NCAA March Madness Live App and HBO Max. Pregame and postgame analysis will be aired concurrently on the aforementioned channels.
The women’s games will appear on different networks, with both Final Four matches available on ESPN and an alternative broadcast on ESPN2. Fans wanting to watch the semifinals can do so through the ESPN App with a premium ESPN+ account or other compatible TV providers. The National Championship contest will primarily broadcast on ABC, also featuring an alternate airing on ESPN, along with dedicated pregame and postgame coverage.
As anticipation mounts for these pivotal games, fans across the country are preparing for what promises to be an electrifying conclusion to the 2026 NCAA basketball season. With storied programs and emerging talent on display, the stage is set for an unforgettable showcase of collegiate athletics.