The Steelers have won their bid for the city of Pittsburgh to host the NFL Draft in April 2026. The league made the news official Thursday morning.
NFL owners reconvened in Nashville this week for the annual spring meeting, the first time they've met since the league's annual meeting in Orlando back in March, and the location for the NFL Draft in 2026 was discussed and ultimately decided.
"We are excited that the City of Pittsburgh has been selected to host the 2026 NFL Draft," said Art Rooney II in a press release. "This will be an amazing event that will highlight everything the region has to offer on a national and international level. I truly appreciate the work that has been done by VisitPITTSBURGH, the NFL, local and state officials, and internally within our organization to accomplish our goal of being selected to host the NFL Draft. 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."
"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," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a press release. "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 draft has become the marquee event of the NFL offseason, and one of the league's biggest events throughout the year, even in competition with the Super Bowl. That's why many teams that can't host the Super Bowl have been submitting bids to host the draft. The demand for hosting it has skyrocketed in recent years.
The Steelers have been optimistic about winning this bid for months now, dating back to Rooney sharing that optimism with reporters at the NFL annual meeting in Orlando back in March. As a guest on The Pat McAfee Show during this year's draft in Detroit, Goodell confirmed Pittsburgh was on the shortlist for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Lots of work has gone into Pittsburgh winning a bid to host the draft, from team and league officials to elected local and state representatives.
"As Governor of Pennsylvania, I have been proud to make the case for Pittsburgh to host the NFL Draft, from my direct conversations with NFL leadership at last year's Super Bowl, to our administration's consistent work alongside the Steelers and our local partners over the past year to showcase Pittsburgh's great strengths," said Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in a press release. "Today, Pittsburgh has established itself as one of the most dynamic cities in the country – and as the birthplace of professional football, it is the best choice to host the Draft. With all eyes on Pennsylvania during the nation's 250th birthday, the Commonwealth is excited and ready to work together to host this historic Draft and show the country what Pennsylvania is all about."
"Pittsburgh is honored to have been named the host city for the 2026 NFL Draft," said Mayor Ed Gainey in a press release. "This once in a lifetime opportunity will allow us to showcase our city to an international audience, and it will give us a chance to say to our global fanbase, come on home to Pittsburgh. We are excited for everyone to see the transformation that has taken place, and to see Pittsburgh as more than the City of Champions, but a place where everyone is safe and welcome. A city where everyone has a chance to thrive, and where football erases the boundaries of our 90 neighborhoods, and we become one city, united, to cheer on our beloved Steelers."
The City of Pittsburgh is HONORED to welcome the 2026 NFL Draft to the Steel City! https://t.co/9l0NdraMWH
— City of Pittsburgh (@Pittsburgh) May 22, 2024
Throughout the three-day event, Pittsburgh will host a slate of draft activities including a variety of community events and a concert series. The whole experience downtown will be free for fans, in which they can participate in different exhibits and games, take photos with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and score autographs from current and former NFL players.
Exact logistics of the event have yet to be announced. However, Rooney confirmed in a press conference Thursday in Nashville that draft festivities will incorporate elements of Acrisure Stadium and Point State Park, with the stage being placed on the outskirts of the Steelers' home stadium, and additional draft events will also be hosted in Downtown, the Central Business District and the Strip District over the course of draft weekend.
This could very well be the biggest event the city of Pittsburgh has ever hosted. Just this year, the city of Detroit hosted 775,000 people for the NFL Draft, breaking the record of 600,000 by Nashville in 2019. Since 2015, more than 3 million fans across the country have attended draft festivities in person.
"We think it will be the largest visitor event in the history of Pittsburgh, hosting hundreds of thousands of people, and really football fans from all over the country," Rooney said Thursday in Nashville. "Certainly, Steelers Nation from all over the country we think will come for a visit, and so we look forward to hosting that and it will be an exciting time. ... The Steelers are an organization that have traditionally built through the draft, so hosting the NFL Draft takes on special meaning."
"Being awarded the 2026 NFL Draft is a testament to Pittsburgh's rich football legacy and a renowned recognition of our city's vibrant culture and welcoming spirit," said Jerad Bachar, President & CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH, in a press release. "Momentum for Pittsburgh as the 2026 host city is only just beginning, and we look forward to working alongside our regional partners to plan and execute a world-class event that rolls out the black and gold carpet for football fans from across the country and around the world."
There will be another press conference on Thursday at Acrisure Stadium, in which Rooney, Shapiro, Gainey, Bachar and Allegheny County executive Sara Innamorato will address reporters and make further comments on the city of Pittsburgh hosting the 2026 NFL Draft.
