Where to stay in Portland for March Madness basketball

• Portland's Moda Center will host first and second round games of the March Madness tournament.
• First-round games are scheduled for Thursday, March 19, with tickets currently available for purchase.
• Teams playing in Portland include Wisconsin, Gonzaga, Arkansas, and BYU.
• There are a number of hotels close to the arena and other activities in Portland.

Moda Center will welcome a handful of first and second round games in the March Madness tournament. Portland, Ore. is no stranger to basketball fans swarming the streets, as Moda Center is the home to the Portland Trailblazers. Now that the bracket has been revealed, we know exactly which NCAA teams are headed for Portland so it's time to confirm your travel and book your tickets!

But, if you're planning to head to the beautiful Pacific-Northwest to catch a few of those games, aside from packing a jacket, you also might want to know where to stay and what to do while you're in town. Portland offers plenty of hotels, restaurants and activities to help make the most of your trip.

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

Where to stay in Portland for March Madness

Portland, Ore. will host some of the first and second round games at Moda Center. First round games will take place March 19-20, while second round games will take place March 21-22.

Where to stay near Moda Center in Portland

Moda Center will host first and second round games in the NCAA tournament, stay nearby: See hotels near Moda Center

Which teams will play in the first round in Portland?

Six games in total will be played at Moda Center, with four first-round games scheduled for Friday and two Round of 32 matchups this weekend. Here's a look at the teams that will face off in Portland:

• Wisconsin
• High Point
• Arkansas
• Hawaii
• BYU
• The winner of Texas vs. NC State
• Gonzaga
• Kennesaw State

2026 NCAA Tournament First Round schedule in Portland

• Thursday, March 19 - No. 12 High Point vs. No. 5 Wisconsin at 1:50 p.m. ET
• Thursday, March 19 - No. 13 Hawaii vs. No. 4 Arkansas at 4:25 p.m. ET
• Thursday, March 19 - Texas/NC State vs. No. 6 BYU at 7:25 p.m. ET
• Thursday, March 19 - No. 14 Kennesaw State vs. No. 3 Gonzaga at 10 p.m. ET

How to buy NCAA tournament First Round tickets in Portland

Tickets are available now to watch the First Round live from Moda Center. There's various options to choose from, including the following:

• No. 12 High Point vs. No. 5 Wisconsin at 1:50 p.m. ET - Get tickets now
• No. 13 Hawaii vs. No. 4 Arkansas at 4:25 p.m. ET - Get tickets now
• Texas/NC State vs. No. 6 BYU at 7:25 p.m. ET - Get tickets now
• No. 14 Kennesaw State vs. No. 3 Gonzaga at 10 p.m. ET - Get tickets now
• All sessions (March 19 & 21) - Tickets starting at $434
• Session 1 (Wisconsin vs. High Point, Arkansas vs. Hawaii) - Tickets starting at $66
• Session 2 (BYU vs. Texas/NC State, Gonzaga vs. Kennesaw State) - Tickets starting at $100
• Session 3 (TBD) - Tickets starting at $230

What is the closest airport to Portland, Ore.?

Portland International Airport is the closest airport to Portland, Ore. It's less than 12 miles from downtown Portland, usually just 15-20 minutes by car.

What is there to do in Portland?

Aside from hosting a few March Madness games, you can add a few fun things to your Portland trip:

• Get some shoe shopping done at Nike HQ in Portland's downtown Nike store
• Take a serene break and visit Portland's Japanese Garden
• Grab your hiking boots and visit Multnomah Falls

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