Raise The Steel Curtain: NFL Names Pittsburgh As 2026 Draft Host

By Barry Janoff

May 22, 2024: In December 1947, Pittsburgh hosted the NFL 1948 Draft in the Fort Pitt Hotel.

Now, stating that “this pride of Pennsylvania will shine bright,” the NFL today named Pittsburgh as the host city 79 years later for the 2026 Draft presented by Bud Light.

The bid was officially submitted in February to host either the 2026 or 2027 Draft. It was approved by the Fan Engagement & Major Events Advisory Committee and full ownership during the NFL Spring Meeting.

Denver was also on the “short list,” according to NFL analysts.

The 2025 NFL Draft will be held in Green Bay April 24-26.

“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 VisitPittburgh for our 2026 event," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said via the league.

“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 league said the event would incorporate numerous elements of the city, including Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium, home of the Steelers.

VisitPittsburgh, the official tourism development organization for Allegheny County, has released an intro spot, “Pittsburgh: Welcome to the NFL Draft,” highlighting aspects of the city and region as Pittsburgh residents offer, “Welcome to Pittsburgh. We saved you a seat. Make yourself at home. Welcome to the city of champions. Welcome to the NFL Draft.”

"Being awarded the 2026 NFL Draft is a testament to Pittsburgh's rich football legacy and a renowned recognition of our city's vibrant culture and welcoming spirit," Jerad Bachar, president and CEO of VisitPitttsburgh, said via the organization.

"Momentum for Pittsburgh as the 2026 host city is only just beginning, and we look forward to working alongside our regional partners to plan and execute a world-class event that rolls out the black-and-gold carpet (Steelers team colors) for football fans from across the country and around the world.”

Hosting the NFL Draft has become badge of honor for teams and their cities, especially given the national attention and local economic impact it brings.

“The bidding process for this, actually, there’s almost as much demand for the Draft as there is for the Super Bowl,” Goodell told ESPN during the recent Draft in Detroit.

“Because so many cities can’t host the Super Bowl, but they can do the Draft. It’s getting to the point now where the Draft, it’s not in the same league, but it’s pretty darn close.”

Since 2015, when the league moved the Draft out of New York — where it had been held from 1964-2014 — it has been staged in Chicago (2015-16), Philadelphia (2017), Arlington (AT&T Stadium, 2018), Nashville (2019), virtually in 2020 due to COVID-19, Cleveland (2021), Las Vegas (2022) and Kansas City, MO (2023).

“We’re estimating there’ll be over 300,000-350,000 visitors that would come to Pittsburgh, putting an economic impact somewhere from $100 million to $150 million” Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald told Pittsburgh’s WPXI Channel 11 Sports. “And I think that’s being somewhat conservative.”

Anticipating a multitude of visitors from out-of-town, VisitPitttsburgh’s Bacher told WPXI, “We’re within a half-a-day drive of 11 NFL markets, as well as over 30 NCAA Div. I schools that also have football programs.”

The NFL Detroit Draft set records with 775,000 fans in-person and more than 53.6 million total viewers over three days.

That topped the previous three-day NFL Draft attendance record of 600,000 set in 2019 in Nashville.

Based on recent NFL Drafts, analysts are predicting upward of a $200 million-plus economic impact for Detroit when the final numbers are revealed.

The 2023 Draft in Kansas City had a $164 million economic impact, the 2022 Draft in Las Vegas had a $235 million impact, and the 2019 Draft in Nashville had a $224 million impact, per the NFL and local sources.

The NFL, Steelers and local organizers said Pittsburgh would host a bevy of Draft activities including a variety of community events, Concert Series presented by Bud Light and the NFL Draft Experience fan festival.

Among the areas that will host events are Downtown Pittsburgh, Point State Park, the Central Business District, the Strip District, The Duquesne Incline, Station Square and areas along the Allegheny, Monongahela River and Ohio Rivers.

“We are excited that the City of Pittsburgh has been selected to host the 2026 NFL Draft," Art Rooney II, Pittsburgh Steelers president, said via the team. “This will be an amazing event that will highlight everything the region has to offer on a national and international level.”

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