Pittsburgh Selected To Host NFL Draft

PITTSBURGH, PA — One of the biggest, most anticipated sporting events of the year will be coming to Pittsburgh in 2026. The city host the NFL Draft, the league announced Wednesday.

Heralded as the league's biggest offseason event, the NFL draft has attracted over three million fans across the country since 2015. Most recently, the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit saw a record-breaking 775,000 fans in person and garnered more than 53.6 million total TV viewers.

Pittsburgh will be the 10th NFL city to host the draft since it became a sought-after road show in 2015.

"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," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "We know this pride of Pennsylvania will shine bright in 2026."

Said Steelers President Art Rooney II: "This will be an amazing event that will highlight everything the region has to offer on a national and international level. We look forward to football fans from all across the country coming to enjoy our city's culture while also showcasing our rich football history and tradition in the region."

Rooney said the draft likely will likely take place on the North Shore near Acrisure Stadium, an area populated by restaurants, taverns, several hotels and Stage AE.

According to an NFL release, Pittsburgh will host a slate of draft-related activities during the three-day event, including a variety of community events, a concert series presented by Bud Light and the NFL Draft Experience -- the league's ultimate fan festival.

The Pittsburgh draft will mark the return of the league's annual player selection meeting to the Steel City for the first time since 1948, when it took place at the Fort Pitt Hotel.

Seventy-two years later, Pittsburgh will come full circle and set the stage for one of the NFL's most highly anticipated events in 2026.