NFL Plans To Steel The Show In Pittsburgh With 2026 Draft Activation

By Barry Janoff

Photo: Visit/PittsburghApril 20, 2026: Projected No. 1 overall pick will not be in Pittsburgh when his name is called for this year’s NFL Draft presented by Bud Light, currently held by the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has informed the NFL that he will be in Miami with his family for the Draft instead of attending the event in person.

Aside from not getting hugged by commission Roger Goodell and not seeing Pittsburgh in person until he visits the Steelers with his hew team, Mendoza will also be missing a bevy of activation the NFL is planning around the event, April 23-25 (ESPN/ABC, NFL Network).

The NFL said it would host an expansive lineup of activities for the 2026 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light.

Included will be transforming the city’s North Shore and Point State Park into a free, three-day celebration of football, community and culture, “bringing the next generation of NFL stars to one of the country’s most iconic football cities while celebrating Pittsburgh and the surrounding area.”

Located just outside Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, the Draft Theater and Main Stage will be where all 32 club selections will named across three days. People will be steps away from the action, as prospects are drafted and welcomed to their new teams on the Draft Stage. 

“As we kick off an unforgettable week in Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft, we’re proud to be working alongside VisitPITTSBURGH, the Pittsburgh Steelers and all of our partners on the ground to create a truly memorable experience for both local and visiting fans," Peter O'Reilly, NFL evp-club business, international, and league events, said via the league.

“The Draft is a three-day global festival of football and community, and we're so excited to deliver a free, accessible experience that invites fans everywhere to be part of welcoming the next generation of stars into the NFL.”

Two iconic Pittsburgh landmarks will connect the expansive Draft campus.

The Roberto Clemente Bridge will close to vehicle traffic and serve as a pedestrian-only fan corridor linking the North Shore and Downtown.

The Gateway Clipper river boats will provide transportation between Draft locations on Friday and Saturday, offering fans a uniquely Pittsburgh way to experience the event.

Photo; NFLAlthough Mendoza will be 1,200 miles away, 17 other invited Draft prospects will walk the NFL Draft Red Carpet presented by Toyota as part of ESPN’s NFL Draft coverage.

Across all three days of the NFL Draft, people on-site will experience a lineup of in-venue moments scheduled to include team roll calls, T-shirt tosses, live fan cams and trivia.

They will also have opportunities to win autographed footballs and helmets, take part in on-stage contests and enter for a chance at Super Bowl LXI tickets. Surprise guest appearances and player interviews are also planned.

Pittsburgh-raised and jazz-trained artist KELS will perform the National Anthem. Preceding the anthem, the James Weldon Johnson Foundation’s National Hymn Choir, featuring The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh, will perform the hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” conducted by Grammy Award-winning Dr. Jeffery Redding.

Steelers Legends and current players will join commissioner Goodell on stage to help kick off the night’s festivities and welcome fans to Pittsburgh.

On Thursday, as each prospect walks to the stage after hearing his name called, a special art installation created by Pittsburgh-based mixed-metal artist Kim Fox will line the Player Walkway. 

Additionally, Pittsburgh native and pop artist Burton Morris has built a 32-piece installation for the Prospect Green Room built by Lowe’s, with each 20-by-20-inch panel mounted on a steel frame nodding to the city's roots.

"We’re proud to be working alongside VisitPITTSBURGH, the Pittsburgh Steelers and all of our partners to create a truly memorable experience."

As part of the Day 2 activation, Pittsburgh natives Wiz Khalifa and Bret Michaels will perform ahead of Rounds 2 and 3 as part of the NFL Draft Entertainment Concert Series presented by Bud Light.

Day 3 of the Draft will put a special spotlight on Pittsburgh’s culture and community, offering entertainment and local flair.

All performances will take place in the Draft Theater adjacent to Acrisure Stadium. General fan viewing is free, and fans are encouraged to arrive early, as standing room will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Taking place all three days of the NFL Draft, the NFL Draft Experience presented by American Express, a free, family-friendly event,  will be located at both the North Shore Draft campus, including on the field at Acrisure Stadium, and Point State Park.

Other highlights Include: 

• Steelers Country at the NFL Draft Experience presented by American Express will be a 12,000-square-foot interactive space located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Point State Park. The destination will celebrate the traditions of Steelers Nation while creating a centralized gathering place for fans to connect, engage and experience Draft weekend together.


•  American Express will pop up with an open-to-all fan experience (capacity limitations apply). Platinum Card Members can also make a reservation daily for a wristband to access select NFL-operated experiences and an on-site reservation to enjoy a session in the Card Member Lounge (reservations are limited). Eligible Card Members can enroll their Card in an offer valid for qualifying purchases at NFL Shop locations on-site at the NFL Draft. Terms apply. 


• NFL Shop presented by American Express: As the official special event retail partner of the NFL, Fanatics is curating a robust merchandise assortment available at more than ten locations throughout Pittsburgh's North Shore and Point State Park.

The flagship 13,000-square-foot NFL Shop tent will offer 250-plus products featuring exclusive Pittsburgh-inspired collections and collabs, and Draft specific products from top brands, including Nike, New Era and Mitchell & Ness.

Fanatics is also tapping into Pittsburgh's creative community at the 2026 NFL Draft, hosting a live art activation with local artist Jeremy Raymer, who will create one-of-one pieces from the brand's Bridge to Greatness collection on-site for fans while supplies last. The NFL Shop is open all three days of NFL Draft Experience. 


Visitors can enjoy a variety of food options throughout the NFL Draft Experience, including local vendors in the Taste of Pittsburgh Presented by Heinz on the North Shore, with food vendors onsite to provide guests with a taste of Pittsburgh’s culinary scene and iconic local fare. A full list of vendors will be available in the NFL OnePass App.

• The NFL Draft Makers Market will spotlight more than 14 local Pittsburgh businesses at North Shore, People can shop a curated mix of homegrown brands. Businesses include Brother Andre's Cafe, Fancy Pants Popcorn, Good L'oven Cookie Shop, Kim Fox / Worker Bird, Love Pittsburgh Shop, Mi Empanada, Michael's Table, Pittsburgh Pottery, Pittsburgh Worsh Company, Sandy Boo Delights, Sarris Candies, Slipfast Adornments, The Picked Chef and Uncle Jammys.


• Topps is marking its return to the NFL at the NFL Draft Experience presented by American Express by taking over Acrisure Stadium with an immersive, interactive celebration of football card collecting. The event, taking place April 25 will feature hands-on activations, live programming with athletes and NFL personalities, and plenty of opportunities to shop for cards of players and teams.

An exclusive value box of the newly released 2025 Topps Chrome Football will be available for the first 1,000 fans through the gates.

As with the NFL Draft Experience, the Topps Collector Celebration Day is a free, family-friendly event. 


After the Draft selections conclude on Saturday, global superstar Kane Brown will take the stage for a finale concert as part of the NFL Draft Entertainment Series presented by Bud Light.

“The NFL Draft is an opportunity to celebrate both the next generation of football talent and the city hosting this moment, and we do that through art, creativity, and storytelling,” Marissa Solis, NFL svp-global brand and consumer marketing, said via the league.

“By partnering with local artists and weaving the city's rich sports and cultural identity into Draft celebrations, we’re excited to bring Pittsburgh to life in a visually dynamic way throughout the weekend.”  

The 2027 NFL Draft will be held in Washington, D.C., with events centered around the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue inn April 2027. This will be the first time the event is held in the nation's capital since 1940. The three-day event is hosted in partnership with the Washington Commanders and Events DC

Back to Home Page