🏀 Middle-earth March Madness 2026 CHAMPIONS

PLUS 📚 Tolkien Reading Day Giveaway Winners!

Jokien with Tolkien “Middle-earth March Madness” 2026 Champion

Characters from all across Middle-earth have faced off in the first few rounds of Middle-earth March Madness. And what was once a group of 32 contestants narrowed to the Company of 16, then to the Fellowship of the 8, the Four of Power, and then the Championship!

Just two characters remained, Frodo and Sam facing off against Legolas and Gimli for the chance to become the Champion of Middle-earth March Madness! The winners?

All hail Frodo and Sam, this year’s Champions!

In a convincing victory, Frodo and Sam sent Legolas and Gimli home 70 to 30!

Here is our completed bracket for this year:

Sam is no stranger to the coveted “Champion of Middle-earth March Madness” club, as he won in 2024. This year he brings Frodo along with him (some might say he carried him on his back…) and they join Éowyn, 2025’s winner!

(Though I gave him a one-year bye last year, I think Sam is going to have to sail off to the Undying Lands for a few years now to give some others a fighting chance to win future tournaments!)

Thank you all so much for participating in and following the 2026 Middle-earth March Madness Tournament: I’ve again had a blast with it this year and will definitely aim to do it again next year.

Have any ideas for next year’s tournament? Let me know in the comments!

Tolkien Reading Day Giveaway Results

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Tolkien Reading Day giveaway!

Congratulations to Scott F and Monique S for being selected as the winning entrants! They’ve each been contacted and have responded to claim their prizes, which I will be shipping out this week.

I’m planning another giveaway this September for Hobbit Day (September 22), so let me know in the replies what you’d like to see as a prize for this next giveaway!

Namárië,

Josh

Appendices

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