AniMarch Madness 2026, Rounds Three and Four: The Road to the Final Four!

Rounds one and two are complete, and the bracket has been narrowed from 64 anime to just 16 remaining. Now the tournament arc intensifies as we move into the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight of AniMarch Madness 2026, beginning today!

AniMarch Madness is our month-long, single-elimination anime tournament where series go head-to-head until only one remains standing. It’s one of our favorite events each year here at Beneath the Tangles—a celebration of the shows that have moved us, thrilled us, and kept us clicking “next episode” long past bedtime.

The first two rounds delivered plenty of excitement as favorites advanced (Frieren! Spy x Family!), underdogs made their cases (Delicious in Dungeon!), and the field steadily narrowed. But now things get serious. With only sixteen anime left, every matchup carries real weight—and every vote matters even more.

Here’s what the bracket looks like now:

Sweet Sixteen Matchups

Here are the matchups for round three, taking place today and tomorrow:

Staff Picks & Emerging Anime
(1) Haikyuu vs. (4) Oregairu
(2) My Happy Marriage vs. (3) The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity

Classics
(1) Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood vs. (4) Vinland Saga
(2) Cowboy Bebop vs. (3) Steins;gate

Action/Sci-Fi/Horror
(1) Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End vs. (4) My Hero Academia
(2) Demon Slayer vs. (14) Delicious in Dungeon

Romance/Comedy/Sports
(1) Spy x Family vs. (4) Violet Evergarden
(2) Fruits Basket (2019) vs. (3) The Apothecary Diaries

You’ve probably noticed: It’s almost entirely scratch, with only Delicious in Dungeon breaking the mold, starting it all off with a huge upset against Jujutsu Kaisen, which is a monster anime currently airing, but isn’t apparently so beloved by our community—not as much as the only anime remaining that could be considered a Cinderella.

Ultimately, only half of these will advance to the Elite Eight, where the winners will face off for a place in next week’s Final Four. The championship also takes place next week on Wednesday.

We’re expecting plenty of passionate voting, debate, and maybe even a few more surprises as these battles play out!

How to Vote

Just like in the previous rounds, all voting takes place on Instagram and Discord. Follow us on Instagram so you don’t miss the daily polls, and join our Discord community to discuss the matchups, campaign for your favorites, and enjoy the bracket chaos together.

The schedule this week:

  • March 16–17: Round Three (Sweet Sixteen)
  • March 18–19: Round Four (Elite Eight)

Make sure to check in each day and cast your votes as the tournament continues to unfold.

The road to the championship is getting shorter—and the competition is only getting fiercer.

Go vote!

Twwk
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