2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh: What to know before you go

The NFL Draft is expected to draw more than 500,000 fans to Pittsburgh April 23-25.

The 2026 NFL Draft will soon be upon us, and while most football fans will watch on TV as teams select new players from among eligible college players, hundreds of thousands will experience the event in person in Pittsburgh.

It was nearly two years ago, in May 2024, when the NFL officially announced that the Steel City had been selected to host the 2026 NFL Draft, the 91st incarnation of the event. Since then, Pittsburgh has been intensely preparing for the draft, which is expected to draw between 500,000 and 700,000 fans to the city between Thursday, April 23, and Saturday, April 25.

After all, the NFL Draft is much more than the drafting of players. In Pittsburgh, it will be like a huge, football-themed festival.

The massive event is “an opportunity here to showcase Pennsylvania for tourists,” Governor Josh Shapiro said at a press conference in March. “We want them to come and have a great time at the draft. We also want them to come back, and we want them to enjoy all that Pennsylvania has to offer,” he said.

If you’re planning a trip to Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know about the event and how best to enjoy the city.

When is the 2026 NFL Draft?

The 2026 NFL Draft takes place in Pittsburgh over three days, from Thursday, April 23, to Saturday, April 25.

The draft itself consists of 257 picks spanning seven rounds, with the first round kicking off on Thursday at 8 p.m. As such, Thursday is the biggest day of the NFL Draft, as that’s when the top-tier, first-round picks get selected. Teams have eight minutes to make their picks during the first round.

Rounds 2 and 3 follow on Friday at 7 p.m., and Rounds 4-7 finish the draft on Saturday, starting at noon.

In addition to the selection of players, many other activities are scheduled throughout the three-day event, such as free concerts, games, and opportunities for player autographs.

Where will the 2026 NFL Draft take place in Pittsburgh?

The 2026 NFL Draft will straddle Pittsburgh’s Allegheny River, which sits between the two event sites of the city’s downtown and the North Shore neighborhood.

The draft itself will take place at the Draft Theater, outside the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Acrisure Stadium (previously Heinz Field) on the North Shore.

Across the river, the NFL Draft Experience—the free fan festival—will take over downtown’s Point State Park.

The two sites of the “NFL Draft Campus” will be connected by the Roberto Clemente Bridge, which will be closed to vehicle traffic to serve as a pedestrian-only bridge.

“Football fans from around the world will see how Pittsburgh’s iconic landscape creates a natural amphitheater, providing the perfect setting for this world-class celebration of football,” vice president of business development and strategy for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dan Rooney, said in a statement upon release of rendered plans of the campus.

Who is expected to be the top overall pick? And what team is picking first?

We won’t know the top pick until the draft begins, but it’s widely expected to be Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza. He led the team to its first-ever national championship win in January, which helped him win the Heisman Trophy.

Each year, the team with the worst record at the end of the previous season secures the top pick. This year, that’s the Raiders. The Raiders need a quarterback—even if they intend to start newly signed NFL veteran Kirk Cousins next season—so they’re indeed likely to draft Mendoza first.

What can I expect at the NFL Draft Experience?

The NFL Draft Experience is the festival part of the event, where fans can check out exhibits (such as all six of the Steelers’ Vince Lombardi Trophies), games, youth clinics, player autograph opportunities, contests, merch, and food and drink vendors (including those specializing in Pittsburgh fare).

The NFL Draft Experience is open between noon and 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday.

What other big events are planned for the 2026 NFL Draft?

Live entertainment, featuring famous names, is planned for Friday and Saturday nights! Pittsburgh native and rapper Wiz Khalifa and Pennsylvania native and rocker Bret Michaels will take the stage on Friday, April 24, while country singer Kane Brown will perform on Saturday, April 25.

“For me, this is a bucket list dream come true, mixing music, mixing football and sports, and then getting to do it with my friend, Wiz Khalifa,” Michaels, who was born in the Pittsburgh area’s Butler County and then raised in central Pennsylvania’s Mechanicsburg, recently told TribLive.

“We’re going to mash it up, just split the songs up and join each other and have fun and just bring some additional energy into the already great NFL draft,” he said, suggesting the Friday concert—which he said he and Khalifa have named “the Black and Yellow, Nothin’ But a Good Time, All-Killer Hits, No Filler” show—will be special indeed.

Is the 2026 NFL Draft free?

Yes! Admission to the NFL Draft is free, but you do need to register for the event via the NFL OnePass app or online. (No smart phone? You can register on site with fan services staff.)

How should I get around?

There are going to be a lot of people at the 2026 NFL Draft. So, driving may not be the best idea. You might take public transit—while it’s always free to ride Pittsburgh’s T (light rail) between the North Shore and downtown Pittsburgh, all T fares will be free between April 23 and 25 thanks to a partnership between Pittsburgh Regional Transit and Sheetz. You can also walk across the Roberto Clemente Bridge to get from the Draft Theater area to the NFL Draft Experience site.

What else should I do in Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh is a beautiful city, especially in the spring, which is a perfect time to visit for a few days. It’s full of tourist highlights, from the Duquesne Incline—a historic funicular that climbs the side of Mount Washington and offers riders incredible views of the city skyline—to the renowned Carnegie Museums.

Pittsburgh’s eats aren’t to be missed, either. We’re talking delicious food the city is known for, like pierogies, Pittsburgh salad (it’s regular salad, plus french fries), and Primanti sandwiches, as well as excellent local restaurants serving up fresh and unique menus.

And if you’re looking to emphasize the sports theme during your visit, Pittsburgh is home to great sports exhibits.

The Heinz History Center, located near downtown in the Strip District, has engaging exhibitions on Western Pennsylvania history as well as the Franco Harris Sports Museum. Plus, in conjunction with the 2026 NFL Draft, the museum is hosting a pop-up exhibit in partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a special exhibit put together by the Steelers on the history of the NFL Draft, and a “Draft Week Fan Zone” that will offer games, food, contests, and special guided tours in celebration of the draft being held in Pittsburgh.

In addition, the Kamin Science Center has Sports360, an exhibition that is ideal for families, as it explains the science of sports through fun, interactive activities.