April 23-25, 2026 • Pittsburgh, PA
Your Complete Guide to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh
500,000+ visitors. Three days. Two venues connected by a river. This is everything you need to know about parking, hotels, food, the schedule, and what to actually do during draft weekend.
Apr 23-25
Thu-Sat, 2026
FREE
Entry with OnePass app
2 Venues
Point State Park + North Shore
500K+
Expected visitors
Everything You Need for Draft Weekend
Parking & Transportation
Where to park, park-and-ride options, road closures, and why officials say don't drive.
Where to Stay
Hotels from $120/night in Cranberry to $2,000 downtown. Plus Airbnb and budget alternatives.
Bars & Restaurants
Where to eat and drink near both venues. North Shore, Strip District, South Side, and more.
Schedule & What to Expect
Round-by-round times, free entry, OnePass registration, bag policy, and what to bring.
FAQ
Answers to the 20 most-asked questions about the Pittsburgh NFL Draft.
From Cranberry Township
Park-and-ride options, bus routes, and tips for visitors from the northern suburbs.
What Is the NFL Draft, and Why Are 500,000 People Coming?
If you're wondering why half a million people would show up to watch names get read off a list, you're not alone. Reddit is full of that question. Here's the short version: the NFL Draft isn't just a draft. It's a three-day football festival.
The main stage at Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore is where teams make their picks. But across the river at Point State Park, there's the NFL Draft Experience -- a free fan zone with a 40-yard dash, field goal challenge, autograph stage, Lombardi Trophy photo ops, and a whole lot more.
Add free concerts, a 5K race, drone shows, a charity food event called Taste of the Draft, and the fact that 9 NFL team markets are within a 6-hour drive of Pittsburgh, and you've got the biggest event this city has ever hosted.
Detroit drew 775,000 visitors in 2024. Nashville drew 600,000 in 2019. Pittsburgh is aiming to top both. The economic impact is projected at $120-200 million.
Draft Schedule at a Glance
THU
Apr 23
Round 1
Starts at 8:00 PM ET. Gates open at 12:00 PM. The biggest night of the draft. Expect the largest crowds.
FRI
Apr 24
Rounds 2-3
Starts at 7:00 PM ET. Gates open at 12:00 PM. Slightly smaller crowds. Great day for the Draft Experience fan zone.
SAT
Apr 25
Rounds 4-7
Starts at 12:00 PM ET. Gates open at 9:00 AM. Locals say this is the best day. Less chaos, featured concert, PicksBURGH 5K in the morning.
Coming from Cranberry Township or the Northern Suburbs?
The T light rail doesn't go north. But there are park-and-ride options that'll get you downtown in 25 minutes. We wrote a guide specifically for you.
Cranberry Township Draft GuideDraft Weekend on a Budget
Hotels downtown are $500-2,000 a night. Parking garages are charging $100+. But the draft itself is free, and there are ways to do this weekend without emptying your bank account.
Read the budget guide →