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A jumbo tron in the center of an arena reads NCAA in white lettering against a blue background. Blue lights are casting a glow on the seats filled with fans.

NCAA Championships in Philadelphia

Play Video March Madness at Wells Fargo Center. Photo by J. Ryan for the PHLCVB.
Date October 2, 2024

NCAA Championships in Philadelphia

a basketball court is shown full of players. Coaches are lined up along the sides of the court. Fans are in the seats surrounding them. The jumbo tron hanging above the basketball court reads March Madness.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is holding six championship events for the 2025 – 2028 seasons in Philadelphia.

Six sports will host championship events in Philadelphia — Wrestling, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Women’s Rowing, and Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse. Philadelphia has now been awarded 34 total NCAA championships since 2000.

Regional partners, including local universities, venues, the City of Philadelphia, the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association (GPHA), the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) and its PHL Sports division, will work together to facilitate the NCAA Championships. These events are estimated to generate a significant economic impact for Philadelphia. The 2024 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship is estimated to have had an economic impact of $22 million.

A Penn State lacrosse player matches up against a Duke Lacrosse player at the NCAA Men's lacrosse Championships 2023 at Lincoln Financial Field.

NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships 2023 at Lincoln Financial Field

The six championships coming to Philadelphia include:

2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Wells Fargo Center
Host: Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania

2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball 1st/2nd Rounds, Wells Fargo Center
Host: Saint Joseph’s University

2027 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball I Regionals, Wells Fargo Center
Host: Saint Joseph’s University

2027 NCAA Division I, II, III Men’s Lacrosse Finals, Lincoln Financial Field
Host: Drexel University

2027 & 2028 Division I Women’s Lacrosse Finals, Subaru Park
Host: Temple University

“Philadelphia is thrilled to host top sporting events like these NCAA championships, and we cannot wait to welcome all the teams and their fans to our wonderful city,” said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.

“Philly is one of the best – if not the best – sports towns in the country and continues to be a top sports destination. This collaborative effort is proof that when we work together as One Philly, a United City, we can create unforgettable experiences that leave a lasting positive impact on our economy and our tourism partners.”

Learn more about all the NCAA events listed above on the NCAA’s website.

Philadelphia’s Rich Collegiate Sports History

Home to The Big 5 — the University of Pennsylvania, LaSalle University, Saint Joseph’s University, Temple University, Drexel University, and Villanova University — Philadelphia is no stranger to elite college athletics. The city has hosted 90 Army-Navy Games since the teams first met in 1890 and many other NCAA championships, including the 1976 Men’s Final Four and 2000 Women’s Final Four.  In 2026, —  the year Men’s basketball returns to Philadelphia — the city will host the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game, and PGA Championship.

Inside of Lincoln Financial Field, the lush, green field is empty. The seats are empty. The sky above is blue with several clouds. Signage throughout the open-air stadium reads Philadelphia Welcomes FIFA & US Soccer.

PHL Sports, a business division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, brings major sporting events to Philadelphia and works to give them the best experience possible. The division works in conjunction with the City of Philadelphia, the city’s professional teams, universities, and venues to welcome fans and teams from all around the globe to Philadelphia.