26 Things to Do While in Town for the 2026 NFL Draft

Pittsburgh's North Shore and Downtown are going to be all things NFL Draft from April 23-25, 2026, but other areas of the city are also coming alive in celebration.

With so much to see and do, we've compiled a list of the top 26 things you need to do in Pittsburgh while you're in town for the 2026 NFL Draft.

1. Visit Arts Landing

Arts Landing, Downtown Pittsburgh's newest outdoor space, will soft open for the 2026 NFL Draft with an activation through the University of Pittsburgh. This area has transformed over the past year since groundbreaking, going from a parking lot to a gorgeous civic space that centers the Allegheny River and two of the Three Sisters Bridges, welcoming pedestrians from multiple entrances. The Draft is your chance to enjoy the space before its grand opening in June with Three Rivers Arts Festival.

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Renderings by Field Operations

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Renderings by Field Operations

2. Adventure in the North Side

With the main footprint of the Draft happening along Pittsburgh's Allegheny River, it's easy to take a quick walk both outside of the Draft Experience to other parts of the North Shore and up to the North Side and experience one of the city's most popular neighborhoods. Take in some of our beloved museums, like the Kamin Science Center (where you can watch The Football Town, an NFL Films project about Western Pennsylvania's ties to the sport), Mattress Factory Museum of Contemporary Art, National Aviary (open Saturday, April 25), Children's Museum of Pittsburgh and MuseumLab, Moonshot Museum, Museum of Illusions, Andy Warhol Museum, Bicycle Heaven Museum, and Randyland. Allegheny Commons Park is a short walk away if you want a break from the action, and the 'Burgh Bits & Bites Allegheny North Side Food Tour will take you around to the area's best spots for some grub.

Click here for more to do in Pittsburgh's North Shore and North Side.

Please note, some businesses may have limited hours during the Draft.

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Julie Kahlbaugh

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Julie Kahlbaugh

3. Enjoy the Spring Weather

Pittsburgh is proud of experience all four seasons year-round, and the end of April is when the sun starts to truly shine. It's the perfect time of year to take in Pittsburgh's great outdoors without it being too scorching outside. Go on a walk with Free Pittsburgh Walking Tours, catch our unique redbud trees in peak bloom, grab a bike from POGOH Bikeshare stations around the city and enjoy a ride, whether on your own or during the Draft Day Ride with the Pittsburgh Major Taylor Cycling Club and Black Girls Do Bike: Pittsburgh.

4. Catch a Show

There's so much entertainment happening around the city during the Draft that you'll have a hard time picking which shows to go to. On Draft Eve, you can catch PicksBURGH Music Edition, a music crawl taking over a variety of venues in several neighborhoods throughout the city featuring music for all types of crowds. Then, throughout the week, several venues throughout the city are hosting national names, like Ice Spice, Steve Aoki, Nelly, and 2 Chainz, just to name a few. And of course, there will be entertainment at the Draft Theater, with Pittsburgh-area natives Wiz Khalifa and Bret Michaels are headlining a show on Friday, April 24, while Kane Brown is headlining a show on Saturday, April 25.

5. Get Your Sports Gear in the Strip District

A quick walk from Downtown, the Strip District is one of Pittsburgh's best neighborhoods to grab some sports gear. Several pop up shops and beloved mainstays line the streets, selling anything you need from cheesy t-shirts to staples like Terrible Towels. While you're in the area, stop by the original Primanti Brother's - one of Pittsburgh's most recognizable restaurants - and grab a bite, or stop by The Terminal for a variety of bites and things to do between picks.

6. Visit a Sports Museum

If you're here for the Draft, it's safe to say you're a sports fan. Luckily for you, Pittsburgh is the City of Champions and has several museums dedicated specifically to sports. The Heinz History Center - recently named the best history museum in the country by USA Today for the third year in a row - is home to the Franco Harris Sports Museum, which tells the stories of Pittsburghers who became champions and champions who became Pittsburghers. The History Center is also premiering a special Draft exhibition during the week, so catch it before it's gone!

The Steelers Hall of Honor Museum inside Acrisure Stadium is a must-visit for football fans. Right in the heart of the Draft footprint, the expansive displays truly capture the heart of one of the NFL's most stories franchises. With everything going on, it might be hard to get in, but trust us when we say it's worth a trip back.

And for baseball fans, The Clemente Museum is in Lawrenceville, a short distance from the Heinz History Center in the Strip District. Housed in a historic firehouse, the Clemente Museum is hosts the world’s largest exhibited collection of baseball artifacts, works of art, literature, photographs, memorabilia, and related materials which focus on Roberto Clemente, his teammates, his personal life, and his humanitarian causes.

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Western PA Sports Museum at the Heinz History Center

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Jody Mader

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Western PA Sports Museum at the Heinz History Center

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Jody Mader

7. Tour Pittsburgh's Sports Heritage Trail

Pittsburgh is the City of Champions when it comes to our teams, but it's also true when it comes to the athletes who were born and raised here. As such, throughout the city, you can find several markers and landmarks that signify important moments in our sports history. From the location of the Immaculate Reception to the marker of the first professional football game, you'll learn something new wherever you go along the trail.

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Immaculate Reception monument - a holy pilgrimage for any non-Raiders football fan

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Immaculate Reception monument - a holy pilgrimage for any non-Raiders football fan

8. Take an Incline to Mt. Washington

A Pittsburgh trip isn't complete without a trip to Mt. Washington. And the best way to get there is up either the Monongahela Incline or Duquesne Incline. Both offer exceptional views of the city skyline and Acrisure Stadium, and the Monongahela Incline is free to use during the Draft thanks to Sheetz!

9. Discover Market Square's New Look

Market Square, in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh, has been under renovations for the past few months. The Draft is the first chance the public will have to enjoy its new features and amenities, all with a Draft activation that will tie the grand opening together! With live music, themed events, and more, you won't want to miss out on this hub for Draft entertainment.

10. Ride on the Gateway Clipper

Another Pittsburgh staple made free during the Draft, the Gateway Clipper can normally be found giving tours along Pittsburgh's three rivers. During the Draft, the fleet with be used to transport fans between the two main areas of the campus - North Shore and Point State Park. You can also take it from Station Square to PNC Park or vice versa, both of which are outside of the Draft Experience footprint.

11. Experience Draft Activities at Point State Park

Speaking of, Point State Park also experienced renovations and will be ready to go for the Draft. It's fitting, because it's part of the main Draft footprint and will be where the red carpet is held. There will also be plenty of Draft activations among the greenery, including a sight-seeing space hosted by the Steelers and more.

12. Watch the Draft from a Local Sports Bar

Watching the Draft in the heart of the footprint is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but if you'd like to rest, there's no shame in watching it from the comfort of a barstool. Luckily, Pittsburgh is riddled with sports bars around every corner. Post up at places like Mike's Beer Bar, Tom's Watch Bar, Redbeard's, Primanti's, Capo's, or Title 9 and catch all the action with a cold beer in hand and bar bites in your stomach.

13. Support Pittsburgh's Newest Businesses

Pittsburgh is a city on the rise, and we're always welcoming new businesses into our 90 neighborhoods. Already in 2026, we have over a dozen new businesses that are already so beloved in our community, From candle making spaces and coffee shops to restaurants and gift shops, you'll find whatever you're looking for among our new storefronts.

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VisitPITTSBURGH

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VisitPITTSBURGH

14. Grab a Souvenir from a Locally-Owned Store

Speaking of shopping local, there are some Pittsburgh staples that you'll definitely want to snag from souvenirs from. Stop by love, Pittsburgh for a more artsy feel, or go to Steel City for something a little more gritty. Whatever your style, you'll find something to take home with you.

15. Go on a Museum Crawl

We mentioned the museums that are in Pittsburgh's North Side and the sports museums, but there are more scattered throughout our 90 neighborhoods. The Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History are located in the heart of Oakland and the University of Pittsburgh's campus. Also in Oakland are Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum and Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. You won't have to go far from Oakland to find The Frick Museum, and if you didn't check out the rest of the Heinz History Center while visiting the Franco Harris Sports Museum, don't miss it.

16. Taste the Flavors of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is Primanti's, but we're also pierogis, chipped ham, and pączki. And those are just our every day flavors. We're proud of have world-renowned restaurants and chefs in our community, serving up dishes that will make your tastebuds explode with flavor and remind you of grandma's home cooking all in one bite. Try FET-FISK, Apteka, Pusadee's Garden, and Balvanera just to start.

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Apteka

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Ben Filio

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Apteka

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Ben Filio

17. Visit Where Famous Athletes have Called Home

Dozens of legendary athletes grew up in our backyard, so why not take the time to visit their old neighborhoods while you're in town. Just to name a few:

Bill Cowher was born in Crafton
Aaron Donald was born in Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar
Damar Hamlin was born in McKees Rocks
Joe Namath was born in Beaver Falls
Arnold Palmer was born in Latrobe
Dan Marino was born in South Oakland
Jim Kelly was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in East Brady
Joe Montana was born in New Eagle
Pat McAfee was born in Plum
Mike Ditka was born in Carnegie
Tony Dorsett was born in Rochester and grew up in Aliquippa

More famous Pittsburghers

18. Experience PicksBURGH

For the Draft, Pittsburgh is becoming PicksBURGH - featuring a collection of events designed to hype you up during the week. Run P3R's Draft Day 5K, tour Draft Eve's Music Crawl, and more!

19. Visit Pittsburgh's #1 Giraffe Pick

Perfect for families, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is in Highland Park - just a few miles away from Downtown. And with the NFL Draft, the zoo decided to hop in on the fun by hosting the #1 giraffe pick...get it? The zoo has been continuously revamped over the past few years, with renovations and new exhibits coming to life before our eyes. Don't miss out on this family-friendly event throughout the weekend!

20. Find Your Favorite Local Brew or Craft Cocktail

Pittsburgh is full of breweries and cocktail bars just waiting for you to try their specialties. No matter your preference, you need to try an IC Light for starters. But after that, it's time to expand your flavor palate. For beer lovers, check out Southern Tier Brewery, East End Brewing, Trace Brewing, Grist House, and Allegheny City Brewing, just to name a few. If you prefer craft cocktails, we recommend Wigle Whiskey, Margaux, Emerson's, William Omni's speakeasy, Bar Botanica, and Commerce.

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Lauren Petrilla

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Lauren Petrilla

21. Explore Another Pittsburgh Neighborhood

In and around the Draft footprint, you'll be spending most of your time Downtown and on the North Shore. But during your downtime before or after the Draft, our other neighborhoods are just waiting to be discovered. Mount Washington is filled with local shops that you can visit after taking in a gorgeous view of our skyline, Lawrenceville is walkable and houses a diverse array of cuisine, Squirrel Hill is a coffee and tea lover's paradise, and South Side is the spot to bee if you want to grab a beer.

Learn more about all 90 of our neighborhoods

22. Go on a World Tour from Pittsburgh

You came to Pittsburgh, and now it's time to immerse yourself in the rest of the world. The University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning - the tallest academic building in the Western hemisphere - is home to the Nationality Rooms, which act as a community space where you're invited to experience your heritage in a space that's timeless and austere, yet dynamic and alive. Immerse yourself in the culture of Poland, Japan, Sweden, and more right in our backyard.

23. Ride a Roller Coaster or Two

The Draft has perfect timing, because Kennywood Amusement Park opens for the season on April 18. That means that when you're in town, you can take a short drive to West Mifflin and experience the park before it gets busier this summer. Ride the Steel Curtain and Phantom's Revenge, take a picture in front of the iconic tunnel, and don't forget to grab some Potato Patch fries!

24. Discover Pittsburgh's Hidden Gems

We've told you so many things you can do when you're here, yet there's still more to be discovered. Pittsburgh has something for everyone hidden around every corner, and luckily, we did the looking for you. Check out our list of Pittsburgh's best kept secrets.

25. Extend Your Trip

Do you really have to go? The Draft isn't even the start of what we have to offer in the Steel City. With the Pittsburgh Pirates season starting up and games at PNC Park the weekend before the Draft, there's no reason you can't come to town early or stay late. Plus, the Pittsburgh Penguins are in the playoffs for the first time in a few years, and the defending champion Pittsburgh Riverhounds are back in action at Highmark Stadium. Couple those with the 59th Carnegie International kicking off in May and critically-acclaimed musicians and shows coming to our area, there's no better time to stick around than now.

Hotels & Resorts

26. Make a Checklist for Your Pittsburgh Bucket List

We know we threw a lot of things at you, but trust us when we say everything is worth it. Make your own list of what inspires you in our city and hit up as many as you can while in town. And if you don't get to everything this time, we can't wait to see you when you come back.