The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft may still be a mystery for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but what we learned on Tuesday paints a detailed picture of how the 2026 NFL Draft will unfold in their city. Specifically, the layout on the North Shore, according to insider sources.
Reported by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Abigail Hakas, it’s confirmed that the central stage for the 2026 NFL Draft will be positioned just outside Acrisure Stadium. Meanwhile, across the Allegheny River at Point State Park, fans can look forward to an exciting NFL Draft festival.
In a tweet shared by Tribune-Review Sports on March 18, 2025, they revealed, “Steelers Nation will be taking over Point State Park, the anticipated venue of a free fan festival known as the NFL Draft Experience, as documents show.”
The NFL and Pittsburgh had previously announced back in January that this three-day event is scheduled for April 23-25 in 2026, right on the city’s scenic North Shore. VisitPittsburgh, enthusiastic about the news, promptly updated their website with a countdown and crafted a guide for the influx of fans expected to flock in from out of town.
While the details of the draft’s specific locations initially remained under wraps, we now have a clearer picture. The Tribune-Review’s Nicki Ewell shared that draft picks will be announced from a stage outside Acrisure Stadium.
Documents obtained by Next Generation Newsroom through Right-to-Know requests reveal that portions of riverfront land and parking lots near the stadium are being offered to the NFL at no cost. Letters of commitment for these arrangements were finalized in February 2024.
Cecelia Cagni from the Pittsburgh Steelers expressed, “As we move towards the event, the NFL alongside local partners like VisitPittsburgh and the Local Organizing Committee will continue to flesh out details such as site locations and activities,” according to Hakas. “The anticipation for the 2026 NFL Draft is running high among sports fans and our organization alike.”
April 2026 marks a historic return for Pittsburgh as the NFL Draft will be hosted there for the first time in the modern era. The city last saw such an event way back in 1948; needless to say, the atmosphere and excitement surrounding the draft have evolved greatly since those post-World War II years.
Bringing the draft to Pittsburgh has been on both the Steelers’ and the city’s radar lately, with the NFL making the official announcement on May 22 that Pittsburgh will indeed host in 2026.
Once a staple of New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, the NFL Draft began its nomadic journey in 2015, traveling to venues in cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, Arlington, Nashville, and others, with Green Bay set to play host for 2025.
Pittsburgh is no stranger to energetic sports gatherings, and with the 2026 NFL Draft on the horizon, the city is ready to showcase its vibrant football spirit and hospitality on a grand stage.
