When does NFL draft 2026 start? Schedule, Dates, Start Times, Venue, how to watch & more to know.

The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23–25, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The event will be held outdoors on the North Shore beside Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick. The first round will conclude with the Seattle Seahawks selecting at No. 32. Several teams, including the Arizona Cardinals (No. 3), New York Jets, and New York Giants, are in prime position to select early.

Where is NFL draft 2026 Held?

The 2026 NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Venue: North Shore of Pittsburgh, outside Acrisure Stadium (home of the Pittsburgh Steelers).

What time does NFL draft start?

Thursday, April 23 – Round 1: 8:00 p.m. ET

Friday, April 24 – Rounds 2 & 3: 7:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, April 25 – Rounds 4 through 7: 12:00 p.m. ET (Noon)

What time will the first NFL draft pick be announced?

The first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft (No. 1 overall) is expected to be announced shortly after 8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 23, 2026.

NFL draft pick times

Every team has 10 minutes to mull their selections in the first round of the NFL draft. Some teams will use the entire clock before turning in their pick but most teams will use less than the allotted 10 minutes.

Round 1: 10 minutes per pick

Rounds 2 & 3: 7 minutes per pick

Rounds 4–7: 5 minutes per pick

2026 NFL Draft first round order

Here's the full order for the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft:

1. Las Vegas Raiders

2. New York Jets

3. Arizona Cardinals

4. Tennessee Titans

5. New York Giants

6. Cleveland Browns

7. Washington Commanders

8. New Orleans Saints

9. Kansas City Chiefs

10. Cincinnati Bengals

11. Miami Dolphins

12. Dallas Cowboys

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons)

14. Baltimore Ravens

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts)

17. Detroit Lions

18. Minnesota Vikings

19. Carolina Panthers

20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers)

21. Pittsburgh Steelers

22. Los Angeles Chargers

23. Philadelphia Eagles

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars)

25. Chicago Bears

26. Buffalo Bills

27. San Francisco 49ers

28. Houston Texans

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams)

30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos)

31. New England Patriots

32. Seattle Seahawks

How to watch 2026 NFL Draft live, TV Channel, Streaming

NFL fans will have various options to watch the 2026 NFL Draft.

NFL Network, ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC will broadcast the event on TV. Cord cutters will also be able to stream the draft live on NFL+, ESPN+ or Fubo, which comes with a free trial.

Here is the day-by-day breakdown for how to watch the event:

Day-by-Day Broadcast (All Times Eastern)

Thursday, April 23 (Round 1):

Starts at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.

Friday, April 24 (Rounds 2 & 3):

Starts at 7:00 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN2, and NFL Network.

Saturday, April 25 (Rounds 4–7):

Starts at 12:00 p.m. ET (Noon) on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.

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