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:
Draft Location City
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.
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.
MORE: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) 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