The Sweet 16 always delivers some of the most thrilling moments of March Madness. Whether it’s a powerhouse program making a statement or an underdog pulling off a shocking upset, this round is where the tournament truly heats up.
If you want to watch every game, knowing where to tune in is key. Men’s Sweet 16 matchups air across CBS Sports and TNT Sports platforms, including Paramount+ and HBO Max. But you’ll need ABC and ESPN for full coverage of the women’s tournament.
While you may be a self-proclaimed bracketologist, experiencing the NCAA Basketball Tournament is nothing without the right TV plan. Keep reading to discover our full Sweet 16 watch guide—featuring channel listings and game times.
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What channel is the Sweet 16 on?
For the 2026 Sweet 16, you can watch men’s basketball games on CBS Sports and TNT Sports networks and women’s basketball games on ESPN channels. Most of these networks are available on popular TV providers like DIRECTV and Xfinity.
You can also subscribe to Paramount+ Premium to stream the CBS March Madness games and HBO Max to watch the TBS and truTV games.
Want to watch more March Madness? Check out our Men’s March Madness TV Schedule and Women’s March Madness TV Schedule guides for a closer look at each tournament’s broadcast details.
2026 NCAA basketball Sweet 16 TV schedule
Are you wondering what teams are in the Sweet 16? Well, look no further than our Sweet 16 TV schedules below. We’ll keep things updated as the tournament progresses. Then, head to our Elite Eight viewing guide to catch the next round of action.
Men’s NCAA tournament Sweet 16 schedule
| Date | Game | Location | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, March 26 | TBD | Houston, TX | TBA | TBA |
| Thursday, March 26 | TBD | San Jose, CA | TBA | TBA |
| Thursday, March 26 | TBD | Houston, TX | TBA | TBA |
| Thursday, March 26 | TBD | San Jose, CA | TBA | TBA |
| Friday, March 27 | TBD | Chicago, IL | TBA | TBA |
| Friday, March 27 | TBD | Washington, D.C. | TBA | TBA |
| Friday, March 27 | TBD | Chicago, IL | TBA | TBA |
| Friday, March 27 | TBD | Washington, D.C. | TBA | TBA |
Data effective as of post date.
Women’s NCAA tournament Sweet 16 schedule
| Date | Game | Location | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, March 27 | TBD | Fort Worth, TX | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Friday, March 27 | TBD | Fort Worth, TX | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Friday, March 27 | TBD | Sacramento, CA | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Friday, March 27 | TBD | Sacramento, CA | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Saturday, March 28 | TBD | Fort Worth, TX | 12:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Saturday, March 28 | TBD | Fort Worth, TX | 3:00 p.m. | ABC |
| Saturday, March 28 | TBD | Sacramento, CA | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Saturday, March 28 | TBD | Sacramento, CA | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Data effective as of post date.
How to watch NCAA basketball Sweet 16 games for free
*CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links. Amazon.com Price; $46.99 (as of 7/25/25 11:20 a.m. CT). Read full disclaimer.
Are you interested in watching Sweet 16 games for free? With an over-the-air (OTA) antenna like the Mohu Leaf 50, you can watch men’s games on CBS and women’s matches on ABC for free. That’s because OTA antennas give you access to local broadcast channels without requiring a paid subscription. Check out our Best OTA Antennas page for more of our top picks.
For NCAA women’s tournament games, you’ll need a free trial for a live TV streaming service to watch ESPN for free. The same goes for any men’s game on TBS and truTV. We recommend DIRECTV thanks to its channel lineup and five-day free trial period. But you can check out additional free trial offers on our Streaming Free Trials guide.
How to watch the Sweet 16 FAQ
Who is in the Sweet 16?
At the time of this writing, the Sweet 16 teams are not set. I will update this guide when the teams are announced.
When does the Sweet 16 start?
The Sweet 16 games for men's basketball will start on Thursday, March 26. The women’s basketball Sweet 16 games will start Friday, March 27.
Where is the Sweet 16 in 2026?
The men’s basketball Sweet 16 games will be divided between Houston, San Jose, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. The women’s basketball Sweet 16 games will split between Fort Worth and Sacramento.
Can I stream NCAA Sweet 16 games?
Yes. You can stream games during the men's Sweet 16 on streaming services like Paramount+ Premium and HBO Max. For the women's Sweet 16, you can stream games on ESPN Unlimited.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com senior writer, Eric Chiu, analyzed this year’s NCAA March Madness schedule to break down Sweet 16 dates, broadcast times, and more. He also cross-referenced this information with our existing streaming and TV deals coverage to ensure you get the most coverage without paying more than you need to.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
Disclaimer
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Amazon.com price as of 7/25/25 11:20 a.m. CT. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
