NFL finalizes dates for 2026 draft in Pittsburgh

Dates have been finalized for the NFL Draft that will be held in Pittsburgh next year.

The league announced Thursday that the draft will take place April 23-25, 2026.

Last May, Pittsburgh outbid other cities for the chance to host the draft, one of the league’s tentpole events of the offseason. Green Bay will host the draft in April.

Final details haven’t been unveiled, but the draft is expected to take place mainly on the North Shore and at Point State Park, plus Acrisure Stadium.

NFL executive vice president of club and business Peter O’Reilly said in a statement that the league is working with the city and the Steelers to “ensure local and visiting fans will enjoy an unforgettable event. We’re excited to spotlight the city throughout our draft festivities and show the world the passion and vibrancy of the Pittsburgh community.”

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The event has grown in stature since the NFL began awarding it to host cities in 2015. From 1965-2014, New York hosted the draft. The 2024 draft was attended by an estimated 775,000 fans in Detroit, with more than 50 million watching worldwide. The draft generated $213 million in economic impact for Detroit, the NFL said.

“The 2026 NFL Draft is an opportunity to celebrate football and Pittsburgh’s unique place in the history of the game, while also promoting our region nationally and globally across the rare platform provided by the NFL Draft,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement.

Fans attending the draft can visit the NFL Draft Experience, a free festival that will provide fans the chance to participate in exhibits and games. It will feature musical performances and autograph sessions with former NFL and Steelers players.

“Pittsburgh is a city on the rise, and the energy we’re building will be felt across the country during the 2026 NFL Draft,” Mayor Ed Gainey said in a statement. “We have a bold, unified vision for a revitalized, vibrant, safe, and welcoming Downtown that will be the heart of this incredible event. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our city and our people, and Pittsburgh is more than ready to step up and shine.”