The 2026 Big Ten Basketball Tournament revealed its 15-team bracket this week, with the event tipping off on March 4th inside Indianapolis's Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
In a departure from traditional tournament formats, the Big Ten only admits the Top 15 from the 18-member conference. The bottom three teams miss the postseason, adding pressure as teams fight for qualification.
UCLA secured the No. 1 seed and Iowa earned the No. 2 seed, followed by Michigan at No. 3 and Minnesota at No. 4. The top four seeds receive double-byes, advancing directly to Friday's quarterfinals.
The 15-team tournament rewards regular-season consistency, with teams fighting for NCAA tournament berths facing added importance with each passing game. However, conference coaches opted for this format, after realignment added several teams to the Big Ten lineup.
Gainbridge Fieldhouse serves as home to the WNBA's Indiana Fever, with the venue set to host all tournament games this week.
Where to Watch the 2026 Big Ten Basketball Tournament
First-round action starts Wednesday, March 4th on Peacock, when No. 12 Nebraska faces No. 13 Indiana at 3:30 PM ET. No. 10 Illinois subsequently battles No. 15 Wisconsin, before No. 11 Oregon takes on No. 14 Purdue.
Second-round games shift to Big Ten Network on Thursday, March 5th. Quarterfinals are set for Friday, March 6th, followed by the semifinals on Saturday, March 7th.
The championship game then airs on CBS on Sunday, March 8th at 2:15 PM ET, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
