Upcoming NFL Draft dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
The draft, and the next two host cities
The NFL draft is the league's annual selection of college and other eligible players, held over three days each spring: round one on the first night, rounds two and three on the second, and rounds four through seven on the third. General access to the outdoor draft site and fan festival is free. The next draft runs April 29 to May 1, 2027 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with the stage facing the U.S. Capitol.
- 2027, Washington, D.C.: announced May 5, 2025. It is the first draft held in the capital since 1941, and organizers have projected attendance of more than a million.
- 2028, Minneapolis: announced May 19, 2026. Dates and site details had not been published as of October 2026.
The most recent draft, in Pittsburgh on April 23 to 25, 2026, was staged outside Acrisure Stadium and in nearby Point State Park. It drew a reported 805,000 people over three days, a record, and ran 257 selections.
What is free, and what a paid ticket gets you
Most of the draft costs nothing to attend. The general grounds, the fan festival (in recent years called the NFL Draft Experience) and the large crowd areas facing the stage have been free, with access handled on a first-come, first-served basis. The league has sometimes asked fans to register in advance, so check the NFL's draft page for the current process before you travel.
What costs money is proximity and comfort:
- Hospitality packages: On Location, the NFL's hospitality company, sells VIP draft packages. For 2027, its priority-access presale had already sold out by fall 2026, and remaining packages go to registered buyers before the general public.
- Reserved areas near the stage: the zone closest to the stage is typically controlled and limited, and access there is not the same as general admission.
If you see a paid listing for the draft, read exactly what it includes: which day, which area, and whether food or seating is part of it. A paid ticket is never required just to be on the grounds, so pay only for an area or experience you actually want.
Which day to go and where to stand
The three days feel very different:
- Night one (round one): the biggest crowds, the most television production and the slowest pace, since teams have the most time per pick. Arrive early in the afternoon if you want to be near the stage.
- Day two (rounds two and three): still busy, with a faster rhythm and more picks per hour. A good balance of atmosphere and space.
- Day three (rounds four through seven): typically a daytime session that moves quickly. Crowds thin, the festival is easier to walk, and it is the best day for families.
Position matters more than at a stadium because nobody has an assigned spot. Standing near a large video board with a clear view of the stage is usually better than pushing toward the front, where sightlines are blocked by the people ahead of you. Fans of the same team tend to cluster, so if your team has an early pick, the area in front of the stage will be loud and tightly packed.
Crowds, closures and planning ahead
The modern draft draws crowds the size of a major city's population, and host cities plan around it:
- Detroit, 2024: staged at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza, with more than 775,000 attendees, a record at the time.
- Green Bay, 2025: the stage was built on Oneida Street with Lambeau Field as the backdrop. The NFL estimated about 600,000 attendees, schools closed for two days, streets were shut and hotels were nearly full.
- Pittsburgh, 2026: a reported 805,000 over three days.
Practical takeaways:
- Book lodging early. Hotels in host cities fill months ahead; consider staying outside the core and taking transit.
- Plan for weather. The draft is outdoors in late April, which can mean rain or cold in northern host cities.
- Expect security screening. Bag rules for the draft site are published by the league and can change by city, so check them before you go.
- Use transit. Road closures around the site are standard. On the National Mall in 2027, expect closures and screening similar to other large events in the capital.
Draft culture: jerseys, picks and a party atmosphere
The draft is a fan event first. Most people wear team jerseys, and the crowd reacts to every pick, trade and surprise. Fans of the host team tend to dominate, which shapes the mood of the whole site. The fan festival around the stage fills the hours between picks, and its free areas have been open across all three days.
For a first-timer, the most useful habit is to follow the broadcast on your phone or a radio. The stage shows only the announcement; the broadcast explains the trades and the reasoning, which makes the live moments easier to follow.
From a hotel ballroom to a traveling festival
The first NFL draft was held February 8, 1936 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia. Eagles co-owner Bert Bell proposed it to give weaker teams a fair shot at talent. It ran nine rounds; of the 81 players selected, only 24 played in the NFL that year.
- 1965 to 2014: the draft stayed in New York City, including a long run at Radio City Music Hall.
- 2015: Chicago took the draft on the road, holding the first rounds in the Auditorium Theatre and building a free festival called Draft Town in Grant Park that drew about 200,000 visitors.
- Since then: hosts have included Chicago again, Dallas, Nashville, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Detroit, Green Bay and Pittsburgh.
For the current schedule and attendance details, see the league's NFL draft page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the NFL Draft free to attend?
General access to the draft grounds and fan festival has been free, on a first-come, first-served basis. Paid packages cover premium areas and hospitality near the stage.
Where is the 2027 NFL Draft?
The 2027 draft is scheduled for April 29 to May 1 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., facing the U.S. Capitol.
Where is the 2028 NFL Draft?
Minneapolis was announced as the 2028 host on May 19, 2026. Dates and the exact site had not been published as of October 2026.
Which day of the draft is best to attend?
Round one on the first night has the most energy and the biggest crowds. The third day, covering rounds four through seven, is calmer and easier for families.
What do NFL Draft VIP packages include?
On Location sells VIP draft packages with premium access and hospitality. Contents vary by year and package, so read the details of any listing before you buy.
How many people attend the NFL Draft?
Recent drafts have drawn hundreds of thousands. Pittsburgh's 2026 draft reported 805,000 over three days, the record.