NFL announces Pittsburgh as host city for 2026 NFL draft
The 2026 NFL draft has found a home.
The NFL announced Wednesday that Pittsburgh, home of the Steelers, will host the draft in 2026, after the league has found success in moving the annual event around various host cities.
"The NFL draft is one of the biggest, most-anticipated sporting events of the year, and we're thrilled to partner with the Pittsburgh Steelers and VisitPITTSBURGH for our 2026 event," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday in a statement. "We have a unique opportunity to spotlight this wonderful community on a global stage, benefiting Pittsburgh's economy and entertaining football fans from all markets. We know this pride of Pennsylvania will shine bright in 2026."
The most recent draft was held in Detroit, and the event broke records for attendance on Thursday − which is when the first round takes place − with a crowd of 275,000, and attendance over the entire three-day event, with 775,000. The 2024 NFL draft was held in downtown Detroit, with the theater constructed on Campus Martius Park.
The 2025 NFL draft will take place in Green Bay, which is the ninth city to host the event. The league moved the draft out of New York following 2014 event and now accepts bids to host the event, similar to the process that selects the host cities of Super Bowls.
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Chicago (2015 and 2016) is the only venue since 2015 to repeat as host city. The other cities to host the NFL draft since 2014 are Philadelphia; Arlington, Texas, Nashville, Cleveland, Las Vegas and Kansas City, Missouri.