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 25Start time: Thursday 8 p.m. ET, Friday 7 p.m. ET, Saturday Noon ETTV Channel: ESPN, ABC, NFL NetworkLive 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.  Â
MORE NFL OFFSEASON NEWS:
Where is the 2026 NFL Draft?Â
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:Â
DraftLocationCity1936Ritz-CarltonPhiladelphia1937Hotel LincolnNew York1938Hotel ShermanChicago1939Hotel New YorkerNew York1940Schroeder HotelMilwaukee1941Willard HotelWashington, D.C.1942-44Palmer HouseChicago1945-47Hotel CommodoreNew York1948Hotel Fort PittPittsburgh1949-50Bellevue-Stratford HotelPhiladelphia1951Blackstone HotelChicago1952Hotel StatlerNew York1953-54Bellevue-Stratford HotelPhiladelphia1955Warwick HotelNew York1956Bellevue-Stratford Hotel (Rounds 1-3)Philadelphia​Ambassador Hotel (Rounds 4-30)Los Angeles1957Warwick Hotel (Rounds 1-4)Philadelphia​Bellevue-Stratford Hotel (Rounds 5-30)Philadelphia1958-61Warwick HotelPhiladelphia1962-64Sheraton HotelChicago1965-66Summit HotelNew York1967Hotel GothamNew York1968-71Belmont Plaza HotelNew York1972Essex HouseNew York1973-74Americana HotelNew York1975Hilton HotelNew York1976-78Roosevelt HotelNew York1979WaldorfNew York1980-83Sheraton HotelNew York1984-85Omni Park Central HotelNew York1986-94Marriott MarquisNew York1995-04Theatre at Madison Square GardenNew York2005Jacob Javits Convention CenterNew York2006-14Radio City Music HallNew York2015-16Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University/Grant ParkChicago2017Benjamin Franklin ParkwayPhiladelphia2018AT&T StadiumDallas​2019Downtown NashvilleNashville2020Las Vegas Boulevard and Surrounding Areas (held virtually)Las Vegas2021Downtown ClevelandCleveland2022Caesars ForumLas Vegas2023Union StationKansas City2024Hart PlazaDetroit2025Lambeau FieldGreen Bay2026Point State ParkPittsburghWhat 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. Â
The action continues Friday evening, as the second and third rounds begin at 7 p.m. ET. The last four rounds are condensed on Saturday, April 25 with coverage starting at Noon ET.  Â
MORE:Â Ranking the best NFL free agents, 1-100
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)DayStart TimeNetworkLive stream1Thursday, April 238 p.m. ETESPN, ABC, NFL NetworkESPN+, Fubo2-3Friday, April 247 p.m. ETESPN, ABC, NFL NetworkESPN+, Fubo4-7Saturday, April 25Noon ETESPN, ABC, NFL NetworkESPN+, FuboNFL 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.
PickTeamRecord1Raiders3-142Jets3-143Cardinals3-144Titans3-145Giants4-136Browns5-127Commanders5-128Saints6-119Chiefs6-1110Bengals6-1111Dolphins7-1012Cowboys7-913Falcons (traded to Rams)8-914Ravens8-915Bucs8-916Colts (traded to Jets)8-917Lions9-818Vikings9-819Panthers8-920Packers (traded to Cowboys)9-721Steelers10-722Chargers11-623Eagles11-624Â Jaguars13-425Bears11-626Bills12-52749ers12-528Texans12-529Rams12-530Broncos14-331Patriots14-332Seahawks14-3SN’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:Â
PickTeamPlayer1RaidersFernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana2JetsRueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami3CardinalsCaleb Downs, S, Ohio State4TitansArvell Reese, LB, Ohio State5GiantsFrancis Mauigoa, OT, Miami 6BrownsSpencer Fano, OT, Utah7CommandersJordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State8SaintsSpencer Fano, OT, Utah9ChiefsJeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame10BengalsKeldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn