Frequently Asked Questions

The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place over three days from Thursday, April 23, to Saturday, April 25, 2026. This is the first time the City of Pittsburgh has hosted the massive, three-day event.

The 2026 NFL Draft will be split across the Allegheny River. The Draft Theater and Main Stage will be located on the North Shore, utilizing the area outside Acrisure Stadium as a natural amphitheater. The NFL Draft Experience (the free fan festival) will be centered across the river at Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh. View the recently released renderings of the NFL Draft Campus.

Admission to the NFL Draft is free. However, you must register for free access to the Draft campus by registering through the NFL OnePass app or visiting NFL.com/DraftAccess.

No. There are no physical or paper tickets for the 2026 NFL Draft. Access to the Draft campus is entirely digital and granted through the NFL OnePass app. After registering, you will receive a unique QR code within the app that will be scanned for entry. If you do not have a smartphone, on-site registration will be available through Fan Services staff.

The 2026 NFL Draft will be broadcast live on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, and ESPN Deportes, and will be available to stream on NFL+. Round 1 begins on Thursday, April 23.

The NFL OnePass app is your "must-have" tool for navigating Draft weekend. In addition to being required for entry, it provides real-time updates, a full schedule of interactive activities, "Know-Before-You-Go" information, and access to exclusive digital content. Users who register via the app also have a chance to win prizes, including a grand prize trip for two to Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles.

The NFL Draft Experience is the league's ultimate interactive fan festival, located at Point State Park. It will be open all three days of the Draft. Fans of all ages can enjoy immersive exhibits, games, and photo opportunities with the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Visit "Steelers Country," a 12,000-square-foot destination within Point State Park. Fans can explore an immersive 1970s "Fan Cave," view all six Super Bowl rings, and visit the Steelers Nation Unite Bar featuring guest appearances and rotating international Steelers bar themes.

The most reliable and detailed source for the official daily schedule, including event times, stage performances, and site maps for the NFL Draft Experience, is the NFL OnePass mobile app.

The Draft Experience will be open during the following times:

• Thursday, April 23: 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Friday, April 24: 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Saturday, April 25: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Note: All times are local and subject to change.

Yes. The NFL Draft Experience traditionally features free player autograph sessions with current NFL stars and team legends. The specific schedule and list of players are subject to change and will be exclusively available and updated within the NFL OnePass app shortly before and during the event.

Yes! The NFL Draft Entertainment Series presented by Bud Light features free concerts at the Draft Theater (located on the North Shore outside Acrisure Stadium). The 2026 lineup highlights global superstars alongside legendary local talent:

• Thursday, April 23 (Day 1): Kick off the Draft with the National Anthem performed by Pittsburgh-raised jazz-soul artist KELS. Preceding the anthem, the James Weldon Johnson Foundation’s National Hymn Choir will perform "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
• Friday, April 24 (Day 2): A massive "Steel City" double-bill featuring Pittsburgh native and Grammy-nominated rapper Wiz Khalifa and rock icon Bret Michaels of Poison. They are scheduled to perform at 5:15 p.m. ET before Round 2 begins.
• Saturday, April 25 (Day 3): Global country superstar Kane Brown will take the stage for a high-energy finale concert immediately following the conclusion of the Draft selections.

All performances at the Draft Theater are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Use your NFL OnePass app to receive real-time alerts on set times and theater capacity.

Yes. The NFL Draft Experience at Point State Park will feature a variety of food and beverage vendors on-site throughout all three days of the event. Specific vendor lineups will be announced closer to the event and updated in the NFL OnePass app.

Absolutely. Pittsburgh's North Shore and Downtown neighborhoods are packed with great dining and nightlife options within easy walking distance of both Draft sites. From classic Pittsburgh fare to craft breweries and cocktail bars, there's something for everyone. Browse our dining guide for more recommendations.

The NFL Draft Experience is designed for fans of all ages. Kids can enjoy interactive games, photo opportunities with the Vince Lombardi Trophy, immersive football exhibits, and the chance to see their favorite NFL team's gear and displays. It's one of the most family-friendly free events the NFL puts on each year.

The PicksBURGH Music Crawl is the official "Draft Eve" celebration taking place on Wednesday, April 22. It’s designed to showcase Pittsburgh’s vibrant music scene and nightlife across multiple neighborhoods. Many performances are free to the public. Some club venues may have a small cover charge.

Beyond the Draft Experience, a Temporary Steelers Pro Shop is located at 275 North Shore Drive. It features the city's largest selection of official Draft apparel and the exclusive 2026 NFL Draft Terrible Towel.

Public transit is the most efficient way to travel!

• Free "Football Flyer" Shuttles: Take advantage of free direct service from the North, East, South, and West regions (Routes 99N, 99E, 99S, and 99W). These run every 15-30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. during Draft weekend.
• Free Light Rail ("T"): Thanks to a partnership with Sheetz, all rides on the Light Rail (Red, Blue, and Silver lines) and the Monongahela Incline are free all weekend.

Attendees are strongly encouraged to use public transportation due to high traffic. Additional options include rideshare services, buses, or pre-booking garage parking in the Downtown Pittsburgh area.

Review the Official Transportation Guide

Yes. To ensure a safe, walkable campus, several North Shore and Downtown roads will be closed.

Please refer to the scheduled phased road closure schedule here.

Connecting the Draft Theater and the NFL Draft Experience will be two signature Pittsburgh elements. The Roberto Clemente Bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic and activated as a pedestrian-only fan corridor, creating a dramatic and walkable connection between the North Shore and Downtown. In addition, the Gateway Clipper Fleet will provide river transportation between Draft sites, offering fans a distinctly Pittsburgh way to experience the event while highlighting the city’s waterways.

The Draft Theater includes closed captioning on multiple screens, a dedicated hard-of-hearing section with an ASL interpreter, and a mobile captioning option fans can access on their own phones.

Yes, though note the event is large, mostly outdoors, and spread across parking lots, city streets, and some natural terrain, which may include mud in wet weather. Wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, and scooters are permitted for fans with mobility disabilities. Power wheelchairs can be charged at an Accessibility/Fan Services Center. Bring all cords and accessories (110V, 20-amp circuit required). Accessible portable toilets are available throughout both sites.

Yes. Trained service animals are permitted in all public areas. Emotional support animals and household pets are not admitted.

Yes. Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) offers direct flights from dozens of major U.S. cities. Pittsburgh's Union Station has Amtrak connections to Chicago and Washington, D.C. If driving, several major interstates (I-376, I-79, I-279) connect Pittsburgh to the broader region.

You can visit the official 2026 NFL Draft Countdown Clock located on the North Shore Great Lawn. Standing nearly 20 feet tall, it celebrates Pittsburgh’s 90 neighborhoods and the region's football legacy, serving as a primary landmark for the Draft campus.

Visitors can easily walk to top Pittsburgh attractions near the North Shore, including The Andy Warhol Museum, the Senator John Heinz History Center, and the Kamin Science Center. For an iconic view of the city and rivers, a ride on the historic Duquesne Incline up to Mount Washington is highly recommended.

Yes, the 2026 NFL Draft is a fully accessible event. All entrances are ADA-compliant, and accessible viewing platforms are available at the Draft Theater and throughout the Draft Experience for fans using mobility devices and their companions.

A limited number of wheelchairs are available for fans on a first-come, first-served basis at any Fan Services booth. Mobility Assistance Teammates are also on-site to assist fans with navigating the campus.

Through a partnership with The Silent Count, three Sensory Activation Vehicles are available to provide a controlled, quiet environment. They are located at Point State Park, the North Shore, and Market Square. Sensory kits containing noise-canceling headphones and fidget tools are also available for checkout.

Yes. Caption-enabled video screens are located throughout the campus. The Draft Theater features a dedicated section with an ASL sign language interpreter. Fans can also view real-time closed captioning on their personal mobile devices via a secure event website.

While outside food and drink are generally prohibited, exceptions are made for fans with medical dietary restrictions. Medically necessary materials and medications (such as insulin or EpiPens) are permitted, provided they have a prescription label matching the fan’s name.

Trained service animals (dogs and, in some cases, miniature horses) are permitted in all public areas of the Draft. Emotional support animals and household pets are not admitted.

Yes. All attendees will pass through security screening upon entry to the Draft campus. To minimize wait times, arrive early, review the bag policy in advance, and have your NFL OnePass registration ready on your phone.

The NFL Draft follows a clear bag policy consistent with NFL events. Clear bags no larger than 12" x 6" x 12" are permitted, along with small clutch purses. Non-clear bags are generally not allowed. Full details will be confirmed and available in the NFL OnePass app's "Know-Before-You-Go" section prior to the event.

Only small cameras and binoculars will be permitted. Professional-grade camera and recording equipment are permitted only for credentialed media.

Strollers are allowed and are subject to security screening. Medically necessary items will be taken through a special security check. You can find information in the NFL OnePass app.

The three-day event is expected to draw representatives from all 32 NFL teams, top player prospects from the most iconic football conferences in the nation and between 500,000 to 700,000 fans. The economic impact of previous Draft destinations has ranged between $120 million to upwards of $213 million, and we expect Pittsburgh to be well within that range.

Viewership of the NFL Draft has grown substantially to represent more than 50 million viewers worldwide, which provides an unmatched, near priceless global exposure opportunity for Pittsburgh.

The 2026 NFL Draft is committed to a "Living Legacy." This includes:

• Urban Forestry: Planting 500 new trees across Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to expand the urban canopy.
• Beautification: 400 hanging flower baskets and 420 yellow-and-black planters are being installed across Downtown and the Sister Bridges.
• Food Recovery: In partnership with 412 Food Rescue, surplus food from the Draft will be redirected to local nonprofits, with a goal of providing 50,000 meals to neighbors in need.