NFL Draft Coming To Pittsburgh

(WPXI) – Pittsburgh will host the 2026 NFL Draft.  Steelers spokesperson Burt Lauten confirmed that the city was awarded the 2026 NFL Draft.  “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. “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 NFL decided where the draft would be held in 2026 during the Spring League Meeting in Nashville.  Ahead of this announcement, Channel 11 spoke with city officials to find out what the draft would look like, including where the stage and other activities would be. Their vision has Downtown as the central backdrop of the main stage that would be placed on the North Shore near Acrisure Stadium.  The full layout has not yet been revealed, but it’s expected to include Downtown, Point State Park, the Central Business District and the Strip District ancillary events, along with Acrisure Stadium and the North Shore.  The officials also think the weekend-long event that could bring upwards of 300,000 people to the city will be a major economic boost.  The process for Pittsburgh to secure rights to host the draft began years ago, with the Steelers having ongoing conversations with the NFL about bringing a “mega football event” to the city.