Where to stay in Philadelphia for March Madness basketball

• Six games during the opening weekend of the March Madness tournament will be held in Philadelphia.
• The following teams will be playing in Philadelphia: Virginia, Wright State, Tennessee, Miami (Ohio)/SMU, UCLA, UCF, UConn and Furman.
• Philadelphia offers various hotels and attractions for fans traveling to the city for the basketball games.

The 2026 NCAA Tournament is nearly upon us as the first round of matchups are finalized following Selection Sunday. Among the venues that will host games includes Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

For those looking at traveling to see games in the Philadelphia area, there's plenty to mark off your list, including where to stay and what to do during your stay. Philadelphia is long-established sports city that features NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB teams, meaning the city offers plenty of hotels, restaurants and history to help make the most of your trip.

Here's everything you need to know about traveling to Philadelphia for March Madness:

Where to stay in Philadelphia for March Madness

Philadelphia will host a combined six games at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday, March 20 and Sunday, March 22.

Where to stay near the Xfinity Mobile Arena

The Xfinity Mobile Arena is the host site for six games in the NCAA tournament, stay nearby: Find a hotel in Philadelphia

Which teams will play March Madness games in Philadelphia?

Following Selection Sunday, the teams set to play in Philadelphia include No. 2 UConn, No. 3 Virginia, No. 6 Tennessee, No. 7 UCLA, No. 10 UCF, No. 11 Miami (Ohio)/SMU No. 14 Wright State and No. 15 Furman. Six games in total will be played at Xfinity Mobile Arena, with four first-round games scheduled for Friday and two Round of 32 matchups on Sunday.

Philadelphia March Madness schedule

• March 20 - No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State at 1:50 p.m. ET - Shop tickets
• March 20 - No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio)/SMU at 4:25 p.m. ET - Shop tickets
• March 20 - No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 UCF at 7:25 p.m. ET - Shop tickets
• March 20 - No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Furman at 10 p.m. ET - Shop tickets

Philadelphia March Madness tickets

• All sessions pass (March 20-22) - Starting at $454
• Session 1 (Virginia vs. Wright State, Tennessee vs. Miami (Ohio)/SMU) - Starting at $116
• Session 2 (UCLA vs. UCF, UConn vs. Furman) - Starting at $137
• Session 3 (TBD) - Starting at $200

What is the closest airport to Philadelphia?

Philadelphia International Airport is the closest airport to Philadelphia. It's about six miles from the arena, usually around 10 minutes in the car.

What is there to do in Philadelphia?

Aside from hosting a few March Madness games, you can add a couple key things to your Philadelphia trip:

• Run up the famed steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art where the movie, "Rocky," was filmed.
• Visit historic sites like the Liberty Bell or Independence Hall for classic U.S. history.
• Check out the art gallery at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens.

When is March Madness 2026?

The 2026 March Madness tournament will kick off after the 68-team bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday.. The tournament will continue through March, ending with the Final Four on Saturday, April 4 and the National Championship game on Monday, April 6.

March Madness 2026 full schedule for the men's tournament

• March 17-18: First Four
• March 19-20: First round
• March 21-22: Second round
• March 26-27: Sweet 16
• March 28-29: Elite 8
• April 4-5: Final Four
• April 6: National Championship