Among the many events on the NFL’s calendar, the draft might be second to only the Super Bowl in terms of fan interest and excitement. The draft itself has always garnered a large audience, as droves of fans, from the casuals to the diehards, tune in to see who will be the top pick and which prospects their team will ultimately select after months of speculation.
But in recent years, the NFL draft has turned into an even more massive spectacle thanks to the event moving to different host cities. Since 1965, 10 different cities have hosted the event, and Pittsburgh will become the 11th later this week. From 1965 to 2014, the draft's primary location was in Radio City Music Hall in New York City. But in 2015 and 2016, the draft was held in Chicago, and the event has rotated from host city to host city since.
Each host city brings a different vibe and unique experience that only adds to the draft's appeal as a flagship event. So, as the league continues to rotate locations, several cities are contending to host the draft. This article will go over the confirmed draft locations for 2026 and 2027, explore which cities could potentially host the event in 2028 and beyond, and explain how the league picks draft locations.
So, without further ado, we are on the clock!
Confirmed NFL Draft Locations: 2026 & 2027
2026 NFL draft—Pittsburgh
Dates: April 23-25, 2026
Location: Pittsburgh's North Shore, including Acrisure Stadium and Point State Park
What to Expect: In 2026, the NFL draft will return to its roots, as the event will be held in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1948 . In addition to the NFL draft experience—which includes immersive exhibits, games and photo opportunities with the Lombardi Trophy—concert series and community events, the 2026 draft will allow fans to explore the history of both Pittsburgh and the Steelers. Among the interesting Steelers monuments to check out are the Immaculate Reception Monument and the Art Rooney Statue. Fans looking for a more general scope of Pittsburgh sports can visit the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. And the City of Champions offers a wide array of restaurant, entertainment and culture opportunities sure to make Pittsburgh another unique NFL draft host city.
2027 NFL draft—Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. has officially secured the 2027 NFL draft. Confirming prior reporting, United States president Donald Trump, along with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris, on May 5, 2025, announced that the '27 draft will be held in Washington D.C. The draft will be held on the National Mall, where the Washington Monument is located. The nation's capital offers no shortage of historic spots and unique scenes that figure to make it an unforgettable experience as a host city. To that end, Goodell announced that he expects over one million fans to attend the three-day event in D.C. The news that Washington D.C. has landed the '27 draft comes on the heels of an announcement that the Commanders reached agreement to build a 65,000-seat stadium on the site of their old home, RFK Stadium.
Predicting NFL draft locations in 2028 and 2029
2028 NFL draft—Minneapolis, Minn.
The NFL could be bringing one of its signature events back to the Twin Cities for the first time since Super Bowl LII in 2018. Back in March, Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey announced that his city officially submitted a bid to host the 2028 NFL draft. Heading into the week of the ’26 draft, the only other city to publicly express interest in hosting the ’28 event is Buffalo, but it appears more likely that Josh Allen and the Bills will play host in ’29.
The Vikings would become the fourth NFC North team to host the draft, as their rivals have all done so over the past 10 years—the Bears in 2015 and ’16, the Lions in ’24 and the Packers in ’25.
2029 NFL draft—Orchard Park, N.Y.
Bills fans are as passionate as any fan base in the NFL, so hosting the NFL draft in Buffalo would put the organization's dedicated and loyal supporters in the limelight. Hosting the 2028 NFL draft in Buffalo would also put a spotlight on the Bills' new Highmark Stadium, which broke ground in June of 2023 and is expected to open this summer. According to The Sports Business Journal, the Bills announced their intention to bid for the 2028 draft but have now shifted their focus to hosting the 2029 event.
Other cities that could host a future NFL draft
In addition to the aforementioned cities, here are several locations where the NFL draft could be held in 2030 and beyond.
| Potential NFL Draft Locations | Why? |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia | Hosted in 2017 and could return. Passionate sports town and historic city. |
| Las Vegas | Previously hosted in 2022. Major resort city with growing sports presence. |
| Los Angeles | Hasn't hosted since NFL rotated cities. SoFi Stadium would be premium venue for draft. |
| Dallas | Hosted in 2018. Great sports town with rich football history. |
| Charlotte, N.C. | Has never hosted. Rising football city with energetic fanbase and strong event infrastructure. |
| Nashville | Hosted record-breaking draft in 2019 that drew over 600,000 fans. |
Full history of NFL draft locations
Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of where the NFL draft was hosted, starting with the 1936 edition of the draft in Philadelphia.
| YEAR | LOCATION |
|---|---|
| 1936 | Philadelphia |
| 1937 | New York City |
| 1938 | Chicago |
| 1939 | New York City |
| 1940 | Milwaukee |
| 1941 | Washington, D.C. |
| 1942–43 | Chicago |
| 1944 | Philadelphia |
| 1945 to ’47 | New York City |
| 1948 | Pittsburgh |
| 1949 to ’50 | Philadelphia |
| 1951 | Chicago |
| 1952 | New York City |
| 1953 to ’54 | Philadelphia |
| 1955 | New York City |
| 1956 to ’61 | Philadelphia |
| 1962 to ’64 | Chicago |
| 1965 to 2014 | New York City |
| 2015 | Chicago |
| 2016 | Chicago |
| 2017 | Philadelphia |
| 2018 | Arlington, Texas |
| 2019 | Nashville |
| 2020 | Virtual (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| 2021 | Cleveland |
| 2022 | Las Vegas |
| 2023 | Kansas City |
| 2024 | Detroit |
| 2025 | Green Bay |
| 2026 | Pittsburgh |
| 2027 | Washington, D.C. |
How does the NFL pick draft locations?
In a process similar to the selection of the site of the Super Bowl, cities must bid for the right to host the NFL draft. The league then reviews each city's bid and the 32 NFL owners then vote on the matter. In choosing a host city for the draft, the league considers factors such as fan engagement and atmosphere, logistics and infrastructure, and venue availability and size.
Final Predictions: What’s next for the NFL draft?
As mentioned, the 2026 NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh, and the '27 draft in Washington D.C. But where will the draft go next? Let's make a few predictions.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Future NFL Draft Locations & Predictions: 2027, 2028 & Beyond.
