The 2026 NFL Draft begins tonight in Pittsburgh, bringing one of the league’s biggest annual events to western Pennsylvania for the first time in decades.
The draft starts at approximately 8 p.m. Eastern at Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It marks the first time Pittsburgh has hosted the NFL draft since 1948.
The three-day event is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans, with the NFL setting up an interactive festival at Point State Park across the Allegheny River.
Tonight’s opening round features all 32 first-round selections, with the Las Vegas Raiders scheduled to make the No. 1 overall pick unless a late trade changes the order.
Each team will have eight minutes to make selections in the first round, down from the 10-minute limit used in previous years. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will announce the first-round picks.
The draft will open with Pittsburgh native KELS singing the national anthem. “Lift Every Voice and Sing” will be performed by the James Weldon Johnson Foundation’s National Hymn Choir, featuring The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh.
Coverage will air on ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, and ESPN Deportes. Streaming options include NFL+, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and Fubo.
Rounds 2 and 3 will be held on Friday, beginning at 7 p.m., with current and former NFL stars expected to announce selections. Rounds 4 through 7 are scheduled for Saturday starting at noon.
In all, 257 players will be selected over seven rounds. The final player chosen each year traditionally receives the nickname “Mr. Irrelevant.”
The draft serves as the unofficial start of the 2026 NFL season, giving all 32 franchises a chance to reshape their rosters and energize fan bases with new talent.
Source: CBS Sports