The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds of the 2027 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament run from Thursday 25 March to Sunday 28 March 2027. The Elite Eight regional finals on the weekend of 27 and 28 March produce the four teams that advance to the Final Four in Detroit.
What is the Elite Eight?
The Elite Eight is the regional final stage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, played across the four regions (East, West, South and Midwest). The winner of each regional bracket earns a place in the Final Four and a regional championship trophy. By the time teams reach the Elite Eight, only one of the original 68 teams in each region remains standing, and a single defeat ends the season.
The Sweet 16 precedes the Elite Eight on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 March 2027, narrowing the field from 16 to eight. The Elite Eight then plays out across Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 March, with two regional finals on each day. The phrase “punch your ticket” has become shorthand for the moment a team secures a Final Four berth.
The Elite Eight weekend is regularly the most-watched stretch of the entire tournament, blending the high stakes of a single-elimination final with the unpredictability that has earned March Madness its name. Top seeds, mid-major underdogs and conference power schools all converge on neutral courts.
When is the Elite Eight?
The Sweet 16 games tip off on Thursday 25 March and Friday 26 March 2027. The Elite Eight regional finals are played on Saturday 27 March and Sunday 28 March 2027. CBS and TBS share coverage, with games typically beginning in the early evening Eastern Time and running into the late hours.
Where is the Elite Eight?
The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight are staged at four neutral regional venues across the United States, one for each region of the bracket. The NCAA confirms host cities and arenas in advance of each tournament. Recent regional hosts have included Madison Square Garden in New York, the Prudential Center in Newark, Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Key Contenders
The Elite Eight field is determined by the results of the first weekend and the Sweet 16. Historically, top seeds dominate progression to the regional finals, but the round is also famous for Cinderella runs from lower-seeded teams. Schools from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten and Southeastern Conference are typically represented in numbers, alongside one or two surprise mid-major sides.
Recent regional finals have featured programmes such as Connecticut, Purdue, Houston, Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Alabama and Tennessee. The defending national champion enters each tournament with a target on its back, and reaching the Elite Eight is widely treated as the minimum benchmark for the sport’s elite programmes.
How to Watch
In the United States, every Sweet 16 and Elite Eight game is broadcast live across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV, with streaming via Paramount+ and the NCAA March Madness Live app. In the United Kingdom, BBC Sport carries selected late-night highlights, with full live coverage on a subscription package via Pluto TV and other partners. In Canada, TSN holds the rights. In Australia, ESPN broadcasts the tournament. International audiences can subscribe to ESPN Player or NCAA March Madness Live where available.
History and Records
The NCAA Tournament has expanded several times since its inception in 1939, with the modern 64 and 68-team format established in 1985 and 2011. The Elite Eight has produced many of college basketball’s most memorable games. North Carolina holds the most Final Four appearances of any school, and Kentucky leads on regional final wins among the historic powers.
Number 11 seeds have reached the Final Four six times, the joint-lowest seed line to do so, with LSU (1986), George Mason (2006), VCU (2011), Loyola Chicago (2018), UCLA (2021) and NC State (2024) all completing the run.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight regional sessions are sold by the NCAA via official partners. Each session ticket grants access to two games on the same day. Demand is highest for sessions involving the top seeds and the closest geographic schools. Resale is permitted via official channels including StubHub and Vivid Seats.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Elite Eight start?
The Elite Eight regional finals are played on Saturday 27 March and Sunday 28 March 2027. The Sweet 16 precedes them on 25 and 26 March.
Where is the Elite Eight being held?
Across four regional venues in the United States, with host cities confirmed annually by the NCAA.
How can I watch the Elite Eight?
CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV in the United States, with streaming via Paramount+ and NCAA March Madness Live. International rights vary by territory.
Who won the last NCAA Tournament?
Florida won the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, defeating Houston 65-63 in the national championship game in San Antonio.
What is the difference between the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight?
The Sweet 16 is the round of 16, played by the four winners from each region. The Elite Eight is the regional final, played between the two surviving teams in each region to determine the Final Four.