When is the 2026 NFL Draft? Dates, Times & Location
Anyone who has ever marked the NFL Draft on their calendar knows the feeling — it’s the weekend when hope feels tangible, and the 2026 edition runs April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, the city’s first time hosting since 1948, according to the NFL. With three days of picks, a sprawling fan campus along the North Shore, and the usual blend of celebration and heartbreak, here is the full rundown on when to tune in, where to go, and the draft history that still shapes the conversation.
2026 NFL Draft Start Date: April 23, 2026 ·
Round 1 Date: April 23, 2026 ·
Rounds 2-3 Date: April 24, 2026 ·
Rounds 4-7 Date: April 25, 2026 ·
2026 Host City: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ·
Number of Picks in 2026: 257
Quick snapshot
- The 2026 NFL Draft runs April 23-25, 2026 (NFL.com official announcement)
- Round 1 begins at 8:00 p.m. ET on April 23 (NFL.com)
- The draft is hosted in Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium (NFL.com)
- Which team holds the number 1 pick will be determined by the 2025 season standings
- The exact pick-by-pick order depends on compensatory picks awarded later
- Fan attendance capacity and ticket details for the Draft Experience are pending city approvals
- Weather contingency plans for the outdoor draft campus have not been publicly detailed
- Exact Draft Theater seating capacity and public ticket distribution process have not been announced
- April 23 — Round 1 at 8:00 p.m. ET (NFL.com)
- April 24 — Rounds 2-3 at 7:00 p.m. ET (NFL.com)
- April 25 — Rounds 4-7 at 12:00 p.m. ET (NFL.com)
- Teams must sign drafted rookies by May 18, 2026 (NFL.com FAQ)
- Rookie minicamps and offseason programs begin shortly after (NFL.com FAQ)
Five key facts about the 2026 event, one pattern: the NFL has locked in a tight three-day window that balances primetime viewership with a full Saturday slate for the later rounds.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Round 1 date | April 23, 2026 |
| Round 1 start time | 8:00 PM ET |
| Rounds 2-3 date | April 24, 2026 |
| Rounds 2-3 start time | 7:00 PM ET |
| Rounds 4-7 date | April 25, 2026 |
| Rounds 4-7 start time | 12:00 PM ET |
| Location | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Main venue | Acrisure Stadium |
| Total rounds | 7 |
| TV broadcast | ESPN, NFL Network |
| Streaming | NFL+ |
| Number of picks | 257 |
What time does the NFL Draft start?
2026 NFL Draft start time for Round 1
- Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 23, 2026, according to the NFL.com official announcement.
- Gates for the Draft Theater open around 5:00 p.m. ET, and the NFL Draft Experience opens at 12:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, per the NFL.com FAQ.
Start times for Rounds 2-7
- Rounds 2 and 3 begin at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday, April 24, 2026, as confirmed by NFL.com.
- Rounds 4 through 7 start at 12:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 25, 2026, per the same source.
- The NFL Draft Experience runs from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET on Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, according to the NFL.com FAQ.
For Pittsburgh, hosting the draft means a three-day influx of tens of thousands of visitors to the North Shore and Point State Park footprint — a logistical challenge the city hasn’t faced for a draft since 1948, according to Pro Football Network (sports media).
The implication: the 2026 schedule rewards fans who plan around specific round windows, especially for the Saturday later rounds.
2026 NFL Draft: Dates, times, location, how to watch and more
Full schedule of the 2026 NFL Draft
- Thursday, April 23, 2026 — Round 1, 8:00 p.m. ET (NFL.com)
- Friday, April 24, 2026 — Rounds 2-3, 7:00 p.m. ET (NFL.com)
- Saturday, April 25, 2026 — Rounds 4-7, 12:00 p.m. ET (NFL.com)
- Deadline for teams to sign drafted rookies: May 18, 2026 (NFL.com FAQ)
Location and host city details
- The 2026 NFL Draft is hosted in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with the main stage at Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, as confirmed by NFL.com.
- The draft campus extends to the North Shore and Point State Park, creating a walkable fan zone, per VisitPITTSBURGH (regional tourism authority).
- This is the first time Pittsburgh has hosted the NFL Draft since 1948, according to USA Today (national news outlet).
TV and streaming options
- All seven rounds are broadcast on ESPN and NFL Network (
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