Here’s How to Stream March Madness
How to stream every buzzer-beater of the 2026 NCAA tournament, from Selection Sunday through the national championship, with cable-free viewing options and travel-friendly streaming tips.
The 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament — better known as March Madness — tips off in mid-March and runs through early April, delivering weeks of buzzer-beaters, bracket busts and Cinderella stories.
Whether you’re streaming from home, traveling or cutting the cable cord, there are several ways to watch every game live.
Below is your complete guide to streaming the 2026 tournament, including channel coverage, app options and how to watch from anywhere.
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Where to stream March Madness 2026
Games will be split across CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery channels, meaning you’ll need access to multiple networks to watch the full tournament.
Below are several streaming and viewing options that can help you catch every game from tipoff through the national championship.
March Madness Live App
The March Madness Live app offers one of the most comprehensive viewing experiences for the tournament, providing streaming for every game alongside real-time bracket tracking and highlights.
The app includes multi-game viewing options that allow fans to keep up with several matchups simultaneously. While limited preview viewing is sometimes available, you will typically need to sign in with a participating TV or streaming provider to gain full access to all live content.
Paramount+ (for CBS games)
Paramount+ streams all March Madness tournament games broadcast on CBS and requires a subscription plan that includes live local CBS access. The service works across smartphones, smart TVs, tablets, streaming sticks and web browsers, making it a flexible option for viewers who want to watch games at home or on the go.
It’s especially useful for fans who want access to marquee matchups, regional finals and the Final Four games airing on CBS.
HBO Max (for TBS, TNT and TruTV games)
HBO Max streams March Madness games airing on TBS, TNT and TruTV, providing access to many early-round matchups and additional tournament coverage beyond CBS broadcasts.
The platform allows viewers to watch games across multiple devices, including smart TVs, phones, tablets and web browsers, making it a convenient option for fans who want broader access to tournament play.
Live TV streaming services that carry every channel
If you want the simplest all-in-one option, several live TV streaming services carry the full channel lineup needed to watch the entire March Madness tournament.
Platforms such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and FuboTV typically include CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV, allowing viewers to stream every game with a single subscription. These services often include cloud DVR storage and support streaming across multiple devices, making them strong cable alternatives for viewers who want flexible, comprehensive tournament coverage.
Digital Antenna
A digital antenna allows viewers to watch local CBS broadcasts at no cost, making it a budget-friendly way to catch major March Madness moments. This option is especially useful for watching Selection Sunday, select tournament matchups and the Final Four and national championship games that air on CBS, provided you are within range of a local broadcast signal.
How to Stream Women’s March Madness
The NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament airs primarily across the ESPN family of networks — including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3 — with select later-round games, including the Final Four and national championship, broadcast on ABC.
If you’re using one of the streaming services mentioned above, you’re likely already covered. Platforms such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV (Orange with Sports Extras) and Fubo all carry ESPN channels and ABC in most markets.
You can also stream games live through the ESPN app with a qualifying TV provider login or through March Madness Live, depending on broadcast rights. In other words, if your plan works for the men’s bracket, it will likely cover the women’s tournament too.
Watching March Madness from anywhere
If you’re traveling during the tournament, you may still be able to stream games through your existing subscriptions.
Streaming services sometimes restrict content based on geographic location, which means your usual viewing options might not be available while traveling. In those situations, some viewers use a virtual private network (VPN) to access their streaming services securely while connected to the internet away from home.
A VPN works by encrypting your internet connection and routing it through a server in another location. This can help protect your online privacy and may allow you to sign in to your streaming accounts the same way you would at home.
Haven't used a VPN before? It's easy to set up:
- Find a VPN service you like, then follow the sign-up prompts.
- Once you have an account, choose a server location that matches your home so you can access your usual streaming subscription while traveling (where terms allow).
- Log in to your streaming service as you normally would.
Streaming the 2026 March Madness tournament requires access to multiple networks. Paramount+ streams CBS games, Max covers matchups airing on TBS, TNT and TruTV, and live TV streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and FuboTV offer the most complete single-subscription option.
Travelers watching from outside their home might consider using a VPN to securely access their existing streaming subscriptions, though viewers should review provider policies and local regulations before doing so.
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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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