How to watch the 2026 NCAA Basketball Tournament (March Madness): TV, Streaming & Free Options

March Madness is here! This is one of the most-watched sporting events of the year, but with 68 teams competing in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, figuring out how to watch March Madness can be tricky. That’s where we come in. Whether you are a cable TV user or looking for ways to stream March Madness live, this guide will provide all the answers. Oh, and don’t forget to bookmark our NCAA College Basketball page for a live TV schedule, with broadcast information and game times.

What TV channels show March Madness? 

Coverage of the 2026 March Madness (NCAA Tournament) is split between CBS Sports and TNT Sports (formerly Turner Sports). There are 67 games taking place throughout the entire event, split among the following four national networks:

• CBS: Features 21 games, split across the early rounds, the Sweet 16, and the Elite Eight.
• TBS: A hub for 21 games throughout the tournament, from the First and Second Rounds, all the way to the Final Four and the National Championship. 
• TNT: Will broadcast or simulcast 15 games, including the Final Four and National Championship. 
• truTV: The dedicated home for the First Four (play-in games), before hosting games throughout the early rounds, and simulcasting the Final Four and National Championship. 

If you ever find yourself wondering what channel March Madness is on today, look no further than our fully up-to-date March Madness TV schedule, with game times and broadcast information. 

What is the best TV plan if I want to watch March Madness? 

If you want to watch March Madness 2026 on cable, we would recommend DIRECTV (from $89.99 per month). Recently, the Turner networks (TBS, TNT, truTV) have become much more widely available in base TV packages, whereas they used to be tucked into "Expanded Basic" or "Sports" tiers. This means you have a wide array of cable TV packages to choose from.

Still, we like to recommend DIRECTV as a great option for sports fans, as it has the broadest collection of Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), which is very useful for fans hoping to tune into sports in their local area. 

With DIRECTV, you can watch every single game of March Madness, alongside all of the other sports, news, and entertainment channels that DIRECTV has to offer.

How can I stream March Madness live? 

There are a couple of options if you want to stream March Madness Live. If you already have a subscription to one of the cable TV providers mentioned in the segment above, you can use your cable provider credentials to log into the NCAA March Madness Live app. This allows you to stream games on your phone, tablet, or laptop at no additional cost beyond your monthly cable bill.

If you aren’t currently with a TV provider, the best all-around package to live stream March Madness is YouTube TV ($82.99 per month). This includes all the necessary tournament channels to cover everything from the First Four to the National Championship, while also offering a "Multiview" feature that allows you to watch up to four games at once. This is especially helpful during the chaotic first round.

Budget options for streaming March Madness

If you aren't interested in a full $70+ monthly bill, you can patch together coverage using standalone apps.

• HBO Max: By subscribing to HBO Max Standard ($18.49 per month), you can stream every March Madness game that airs on TBS, TNT, and truTV.
• Paramount+: A subscription to the Paramount+ Essential plan ($8.99 per month) allows you to stream all CBS tournament games.

Is there a streaming service that shows all March Madness games? 

Yes, a subscription to YouTube TV lets you stream every game of March Madness live. Similarly, if you have a subscription to a cable TV provider that has all the channels you need for March Madness (CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV), you can use your cable provider credentials to log into the NCAA March Madness Live app. Every single game will be available to stream on here. 

Is there an app I can use to watch March Madness? 

Yes, there are several dedicated apps you can use to watch the tournament on your smartphone, tablet, or streaming device. The NCAA March Madness Live app is the official home for the men’s bracket, showcasing every game live or as highlights. And, if you’re in a rush, there will be fully updated box scores for you to glance at as well. You do need login credentials for a TV provider that includes CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV in its portfolio to access this app.

Similarly, if you go down the route of YouTube TV, HBO Max, or Paramount+, or any similar streaming service, they will likely have an app that you can easily use on your mobile, desktop, laptop, gaming device, or Smart TV. You just need to check the eligible devices before committing to your subscription. 

How to watch March Madness for free? 

The simplest way to watch March Madness for free is with a digital TV antenna. High-profile games on CBS are broadcast over-the-air (OTA). However, if you don’t already have an antenna, this comes with the upfront cost of buying one. Also, you need to make sure that you are in range of a CBS station. 

Another way to stream March Madness for free is to take advantage of the free trials offered by most major streaming services to new subscribers. YouTube TV often offers a free trial, which means that you will have access to every single March Madness game that is broadcast during that free trial period. Similarly, other streaming services like DIRECTV Stream (includes all required channels), or Fubo (does not include TNT, TBS, truTV), and others, include free trials of varying lengths.

If you have not already made the most of these, you can use them one at a time in order to stream at least some of March Madness for free. Please note that free trial lengths can vary, so remember to cancel the trial to avoid multiple charges.