NFL Unveils Details For Washington DC ’27 Draft: One Million People Expected
Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 08:32PM By Barry Janoff
June 25, 2026: The previously unveiled NFL 2027 Draft presented by Bud Light in Washington DC now has its structure in place.
The NFL said the Draft is scheduled for Thursday, April 29-Saturday, May 1, 2027, hosted in partnership with the Washington Commanders and Events DC. It will air on ESPN, ABC and NFL Network.
The 2027 NFL Draft will take place across iconic locations throughout Washington, D.C., with the National Mall anchoring the Draft Theater in front of the Capitol and the NFL Draft Experience spanning Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd and 7th Streets.
When Washington DC as named as host for the 2027 Draft, commission Roger Goodell said via the league, “We believe we'll have well over a million people when we come here.”
Additional event elements will be situated throughout the footprint surrounding the National Mall.
"The NFL Draft continues to grow as one of our biggest and most accessible events, and we are excited to welcome fans and prospects to Washington, D.C., in 2027,"Peter O’Reilly, NFLevp-club business, international and global events, said via the league.
Our nation’s capital will provide an incredible, iconically American stage to host fans from around the world, as we celebrate the next generation of NFL stars."
Washington D.C. will host a schedule of free Draft activities over the course of the three-day event. They include a variety of community events, the Draft Entertainment Series presented by Bud Light and the NFL Draft Experience free fan-festival that features immersive exhibits, interactive games, the opportunity to get score autographs from current players and Legends, the Vince Lombardi Trophy, Play 60 Zone, and a shop with exclusive NFL merchandise.
“We are proud to partner with the NFL, Events DC and the District to bring the 2027 NFL Draft to Washington, D.C.,” Mark Clouse, president of the Washington Commanders, said via the team. “This is a historic moment for our organization, our fans, and the entire region.
“The Draft has become one of the premier events in sports and entertainment, and with the momentum around football in this area, from the rapid growth of youth flag football to our return to the RFK site, there is no better time to bring it to the nation’s capital. Football is woven into the fabric of this city, and we look forward to creating a memorable experience for all fans and celebrating the next generation of NFL players as they realize their dreams.”
The 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh set an all-time attendance record, drawing more than 805,000 over the three-day event, with VisitPITTSBURGH estimating the city will make between $120-$200 million in revenue from the event.
In 2019, Nashville hosted the NFL Draft set a then-record 605,000 attendance that generated $224 million in economic impact, according to the NFL and Tennessee Titans. That was one of the major reasons Nashville was named in May to host Super Bowl LXIV in February 2030.
Minneapolis and the surrounding region will host the 2028 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light.
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