INDIANAPOLIS — The 2026 National Invitation Tournament will mark the 88th edition of college basketball’s oldest postseason event, and for the first time in its history, the NIT will be played alongside the NCAA Division I Men’s Final Four, during the sport’s biggest weekend.
The NIT semifinals will kick off the Final Four weekend in Indianapolis on April 2 with tipoffs at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The NIT championship will be played April 5 at approximately 8 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse following the conclusion of the Division II and Division III Men’s Basketball National Championships.
The semifinal contests will air on ESPN, and the championship will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
Selections for the 32-team NIT field will be announced March 15 at 9:30 p.m. ET via social media. Belmont (Missouri Valley), Liberty (Conference USA), University of North Carolina Wilmington (CAA), Navy (Patriot), South Alabama (Sun Belt) and Stephen F. Austin (Southland) have already secured a bid to the NIT.
For the first time in NCAA history, all four men’s basketball championships — Division I, II, III and the NIT — will be played during Final Four weekend at one site, uniting every level of the men’s game on one stage in Indianapolis.
Since its inception in 1938, the NIT has played a foundational role in the growth of college basketball. The tournament has featured many of the sport’s most storied programs and coaches and remains deeply woven into the fabric of the game.
“The NIT has been part of college basketball’s story since the very beginning,” said Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball and chair of the NIT Board of Managers. “For 88 years, it has provided meaningful postseason opportunities and memorable moments for student-athletes and institutions across the country. Bringing the NIT semifinals and championship alongside the Final Four for the first time is a fitting way to honor that history while showcasing the tournament on college basketball’s biggest weekend.”
Broadcast & schedule information
All preliminary-round games will be broadcast across the ESPN family of networks and streamed on ESPN+.
First round: Tuesday, March 17 & Wednesday, March 18 (campus sites)
Second round: Saturday, March 21 & Sunday, March 22 (campus sites)
Quarterfinals: Tuesday, March 24 & Wednesday, March 25 (campus sites)
Semifinals: Thursday, April 2 — 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Hinkle Fieldhouse — Indianapolis
Championship: Sunday, April 5 — 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse — Indianapolis
The Sunday championship will be a standalone national broadcast in primetime, concluding the NIT’s 88th edition during Final Four weekend. Complete broadcast information is available here.
Selection framework
The 32-team NIT field is released following the announcement of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship bracket.
Exempt bids are allocated to institutions from the top 12 conferences in the current KenPom rankings. Each of those conferences will receive an exempt bid, with the highest-ranked eligible team from that conference guaranteed inclusion in the NIT field.
Automatic qualifiers may also be included. If applicable, qualifying institutions and conferences will be announced upon bracket release. A full overview of selection principles and procedures is available here.
Semifinals & championship ticket information
Tickets for the NIT semifinals at Hinkle Fieldhouse (April 2) and the championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse (April 5) are available through NCAA.com/NIT.
On Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, fans can purchase a ticket for less than $45 that provides access to three championship games in one venue — the NCAA Division II and Division III Men’s Basketball National Championship games and the NIT Championship. Re-entry will be permitted, allowing fans to come and go throughout the day while experiencing a full day of college basketball championships during Final Four weekend in downtown Indianapolis.
Historical note
Founded in 1938, the National Invitation Tournament predates the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship and has served as one of the sport’s premier postseason events for nearly nine decades. The tournament has featured numerous future Hall of Fame coaches and players and continues to provide meaningful postseason competition for Division I programs across the country.
Selections for the 2026 National Invitation Tournament will be announced Sunday, March 15.
