As the 2026 NFL Combine gets underway in Indianapolis this week, it marks the start of the new NFL season. Just a few weeks after Super Bowl 60 wrapped with the Seattle Seahawks prevailing over the New England Patriots, teams will start looking ahead to the 2026 season.
Per usual, it’s expected to be an eventful offseason in the league. The scouting combine leads into NFL free agency, followed by pro days, where players start making lasting impressions on scouts and coaches.
It all is setting the stage for the 2026 NFL Draft, where teams across the league look to draft their next future stars. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 NFL Draft, from location and dates to more.
STREAM: Watch the 2026 NFL Draft live via Fubo (free trial)
When is the 2026 NFL Draft?
- Dates: Thursday, April 23 – Saturday, April 25
- Start time: Thursday 8 p.m. ET, Friday 7 p.m. ET, Saturday Noon ET
- TV Channel: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network
- Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo
The 2026 NFL Draft will begin on Thursday, April 23. The league is continuing on the tradition of hosting the draft in cities of NFL franchises This year, Pittsburgh, Penn. will host the draft, at Point State Park outside Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The city hosted the draft once before, during the 1948 NFL draft, held at the Hotel Fort Pitt.
MORE NFL OFFSEASON NEWS:
Where is the 2026 NFL Draft?
The 2026 NFL Draft will be hosted in Pittsburgh, Penn. for the second time in the draft’s history. The city that has hosted it the most is New York City, which held it consecutively from 1965-2014. Here’s a history of draft locations:
| 1936 | Ritz-Carlton | Philadelphia |
| 1937 | Hotel Lincoln | New York |
| 1938 | Hotel Sherman | Chicago |
| 1939 | Hotel New Yorker | New York |
| 1940 | Schroeder Hotel | Milwaukee |
| 1941 | Willard Hotel | Washington, D.C. |
| 1942-44 | Palmer House | Chicago |
| 1945-47 | Hotel Commodore | New York |
| 1948 | Hotel Fort Pitt | Pittsburgh |
| 1949-50 | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel | Philadelphia |
| 1951 | Blackstone Hotel | Chicago |
| 1952 | Hotel Statler | New York |
| 1953-54 | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel | Philadelphia |
| 1955 | Warwick Hotel | New York |
| 1956 | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel (Rounds 1-3) | Philadelphia |
| | Ambassador Hotel (Rounds 4-30) | Los Angeles |
| 1957 | Warwick Hotel (Rounds 1-4) | Philadelphia |
| | Bellevue-Stratford Hotel (Rounds 5-30) | Philadelphia |
| 1958-61 | Warwick Hotel | Philadelphia |
| 1962-64 | Sheraton Hotel | Chicago |
| 1965-66 | Summit Hotel | New York |
| 1967 | Hotel Gotham | New York |
| 1968-71 | Belmont Plaza Hotel | New York |
| 1972 | Essex House | New York |
| 1973-74 | Americana Hotel | New York |
| 1975 | Hilton Hotel | New York |
| 1976-78 | Roosevelt Hotel | New York |
| 1979 | Waldorf | New York |
| 1980-83 | Sheraton Hotel | New York |
| 1984-85 | Omni Park Central Hotel | New York |
| 1986-94 | Marriott Marquis | New York |
| 1995-04 | Theatre at Madison Square Garden | New York |
| 2005 | Jacob Javits Convention Center | New York |
| 2006-14 | Radio City Music Hall | New York |
| 2015-16 | Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University/Grant Park | Chicago |
| 2017 | Benjamin Franklin Parkway | Philadelphia |
| 2018 | AT&T Stadium | Dallas |
| 2019 | Downtown Nashville | Nashville |
| 2020 | Las Vegas Boulevard and Surrounding Areas (held virtually) | Las Vegas |
| 2021 | Downtown Cleveland | Cleveland |
| 2022 | Caesars Forum | Las Vegas |
| 2023 | Union Station | Kansas City |
| 2024 | Hart Plaza | Detroit |
| 2025 | Lambeau Field | Green Bay |
| 2026 | Point State Park | Pittsburgh |
What time does the 2026 NFL Draft start?
The NFL Draft includes seven rounds over the course of three days. The first round takes place on Thursday evening on April 23, with action starting at 8 p.m. ET sharp. This is the longest of the seven rounds, as teams have eight minutes to make their selections. That’s a change from 10 minutes, which was the first-round time limit since 2008.
NFL Draft 2026 TV schedule
The 2026 NFL Draft offers will be available to watch on three networks, including ESPN, ABC and NFL Network. This is unique, in that each network will provide is own unique coverage with its on-air personalities providing analysis on players and teams’ draft classes. For those without cable, fans can livestream the action on ESPN+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users.
Coverage can also be livestreamed on ESPN+, as well as Fubo which is offering a free trial.
| Round(s) | Day | Start Time | Network | Live stream |
| 1 | Thursday, April 23 | 8 p.m. ET | ESPN, ABC, NFL Network | ESPN+, Fubo |
| 2-3 | Friday, April 24 | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN, ABC, NFL Network | ESPN+, Fubo |
| 4-7 | Saturday, April 25 | Noon ET | ESPN, ABC, NFL Network | ESPN+, Fubo |
NFL Draft order 2026
Here’s a look at the draft order for 2026. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, followed by the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals for picks No. 2 and No. 3. Of course as the draft inches closer, this order could potentially change with trades.
| Pick | Team | Record |
| 1 | Raiders | 3-14 |
| 2 | Jets | 3-14 |
| 3 | Cardinals | 3-14 |
| 4 | Titans | 3-14 |
| 5 | Giants | 4-13 |
| 6 | Browns | 5-12 |
| 7 | Commanders | 5-12 |
| 8 | Saints | 6-11 |
| 9 | Chiefs | 6-11 |
| 10 | Bengals | 6-11 |
| 11 | Dolphins | 7-10 |
| 12 | Cowboys | 7-9 |
| 13 | Falcons (traded to Rams) | 8-9 |
| 14 | Ravens | 8-9 |
| 15 | Bucs | 8-9 |
| 16 | Colts (traded to Jets) | 8-9 |
| 17 | Lions | 9-8 |
| 18 | Vikings | 9-8 |
| 19 | Panthers | 8-9 |
| 20 | Packers (traded to Cowboys) | 9-7 |
| 21 | Steelers | 10-7 |
| 22 | Chargers | 11-6 |
| 23 | Eagles | 11-6 |
| 24 | Jaguars | 13-4 |
| 25 | Bears | 11-6 |
| 26 | Bills | 12-5 |
| 27 | 49ers | 12-5 |
| 28 | Texans | 12-5 |
| 29 | Rams | 12-5 |
| 30 | Broncos | 14-3 |
| 31 | Patriots | 14-3 |
| 32 | Seahawks | 14-3 |
SN’s latest 2026 mock draft
TSN’s Vinnie Iyer released his latest mock draft a couple weeks before the NFL scouting combine. Check out his full mock draft here, but here’s a look at his projected first 10 picks:
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Raiders | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana |
| 2 | Jets | Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami |
| 3 | Cardinals | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State |
| 4 | Titans | Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State |
| 5 | Giants | Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami |
| 6 | Browns | Spencer Fano, OT, Utah |
| 7 | Commanders | Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State |
| 8 | Saints | Spencer Fano, OT, Utah |
| 9 | Chiefs | Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame |
| 10 | Bengals | Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn |
