The NFL is bringing its biggest offseason spectacle to Pittsburgh in 2026, and now we’ve got our first real look at what that’s going to look like. On Tuesday, the league, along with VisitPITTSBURGH and the Pittsburgh Steelers, unveiled the official renderings for the 2026 NFL Draft - and it’s shaping up to be a uniquely Pittsburgh experience, both in scale and setting.
At the heart of it all is a sprawling, two-site campus that stretches from the city’s North Shore to Downtown, anchored by some of the most iconic landmarks in the Steel City. The draft theater and main stage will take center stage outside Acrisure Stadium, home of the Steelers. According to VisitPITTSBURGH, the footprint of the stage pavilion alone will be larger than a football field - and that’s before you factor in the crowd of fans from all 32 NFL teams expected to pack the area.
“The capacity of the stage pavilion is still being finalized,” said Jerad Bachar, president and CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH. “But you can imagine how big it needs to be when you’ve got every team’s fan base represented in one place.”
Just across the river, Point State Park will be transformed into a football fan’s playground as part of the NFL Draft Experience - the league’s interactive fan festival. Expect hands-on exhibits, youth football programming, and plenty of food and drink options to keep the energy high. It’s all designed to bring fans of all ages into the action, whether you’re a die-hard draftnik or just there for the atmosphere.
What ties it all together is a pair of Pittsburgh signatures. The Roberto Clemente Bridge - one of the city’s most recognizable structures - will be closed to vehicles and turned into a pedestrian-only thoroughfare, connecting fans between the North Shore and Downtown. And in true Pittsburgh fashion, the Gateway Clipper Fleet will be on full display, ferrying fans along the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers throughout the three-day event.
“The entire Gateway Clipper Fleet will be out on the water helping us shuttle people back and forth,” Bachar added. “It’s going to be a full-on river experience.”
For the Steelers, this isn’t just about logistics - it’s a chance to showcase the city’s deep football roots on a global stage.
“Football fans from around the world will see how Pittsburgh’s iconic landscape creates a natural amphitheater,” said Dan Rooney, the Steelers’ vice president of business development and strategy. “It’s the perfect setting for a world-class celebration of football - right here in Western Pennsylvania, a region that’s played such a unique role in the history of the game.”
Additional details - including street closures, transportation plans, and how fans can enter the various draft zones - will be announced as the event draws closer.
The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23-25. And while tickets for the main stage and theater haven’t been released just yet, one thing’s for sure: Pittsburgh is getting ready to throw one unforgettable football party.