NFL Draft Week Attractions and Events

This week the eyes of the world will be cast upon Pittsburgh, the home of the NFL Draft for 2026. Soon the beauty, charm, and mysteries of Pittsburgh will be on full display. Pittsburgh has been working hard to get ready for its opportunity to shine. If you’ve been hedging about visiting the three-day event, there is still time to get your NFL Draft pass. One can do so by simply registering at the NFL draft pass registration page. The NFL Draft Theater is located at Acrisure Stadium while the NFL Draft Experience will be located across the river in Point State Park. The events are free with the pass. Here are some highlights of NFL Draft week some of which we’ve extracted from various sources including the NFL Draft Webpages and Steelers’ site:

The Draft events and activities are mainly a production of the NFL and their host team the Steelers. “Experiences include photos with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl Rings, interactive games and NFL FLAG clinics, star player and legend autographs, live music entertainment and local cuisine.

POINT STATE PARK

Hail Mary
Test your long-distance accuracy like a pro by throwing a deep pass over defenders into a drop-in net.

40-Yard Dash
Put your skills to the test by racing down the field against your opponents and digital NFL players on a giant 40-yard long LED wall!

Autograph Stage
Get free autographs from current NFL players and NFL Legends.  Schedule will be available by April 20 in the OnePass app with regular updates (*subject to change without notice).

Taste of Pittsburgh
Enjoy selections from some of Pittsburgh’s restaurants in a “taste of the town” tailgate. 

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Vince Lombardi Trophies
Fans may take their photo with the most iconic trophy in sports and celebrate the winning history of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

First Overall Pick
Visit a replica Draft Set and take your spot behind the podium as a #1 Draft pick!

Field Goal Challenge
Step right up and take your shot at kicking a field goal just like the pros.

Long Snap
Try your best to execute a perfect punt and field goal snap.

NFL Shop
Stop by NFL Shop at Draft for the largest assortment of NFL Draft and NFL team merchandise.

Steelers Country

Steelers Country is the ultimate gathering spot for fans to come together and celebrate Draft weekend. This family-friendly destination features:

An immersive Fan Cave experience

Six larger-than-life Steelers Super Bowl Rings

A Steelers Nation Unite Bar (drinks available for purchase)

An iconic Terrible Towel art installation

Yard games and additional photo opportunities

Steelers Legend & current player Q&As, live Draft coverage, and daily entertainment on stage, including the Steelers Draft Countdown Show on Thursday (7 – 8 p.m.) and Friday (6 – 7 p.m.)

PLAY 60 ZONE—NORTH SHORE (STEELERS MINI FIELD)

Vertical Jump
Take your position at the vertical jump and find out what the differential between your reach and the flag you hit is, just like at the NFL Scouting Combine!

Field Goal Challenge
Step right up and take your shot at kicking a field goal just like the pros

Gear Up and Go
Kids can try on NFL equipment and feel like a pro.

ACRISURE STADIUM—FIELD

Field Goal Kick
Attempt a field goal just like the pros on the field at Acrisure

*Play Football Field *
Watch and learn from USA Football coaches and NFL players about football and NFL FLAG football, as well as Heads Up tackling during various clinics, competitions, and demonstrations.  On-field clinics are open to kids ages 6-14. Daily clinics open on a first-come, first-served basis. Below schedule is subject to change.

Fan Viewing
Fans are invited to watch Round 1 on Thursday, and Rounds 2 & 3 on Friday from the field at Acrisure Stadium! Blankets are permitted, however, they must be in use at all times.

ATTRACTIONS:   NORTH SHORE

Bud Light Beer Hall
It’s easy to enjoy the NFL Draft at the Bud Light Beer Hall. Stop by to take a break, enjoy an ice-cold Bud Light, and snap a picture at our fun photo opp! Guests must be 21 and over to partake in any alcoholic beverages.

Look Like A Pro
Step inside a uniformed body-cast mold bearing the insignia of your favorite NFL team and have a friend snap your photo.

Taste of Pittsburgh
Enjoy selections from some of Pittsburgh’s restaurants in a “taste of the town” tailgate.

NFL Draft Photo Frames
Take a picture in one of the jumbo photo frames!

NFL Museum
Visit the NFL Museum and experience a replica NFL locker room as it appears on gameday. Experience the sights of a real NFL pregame inside our video tunnel!

Also visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame curated exhibit presented by Novartis to include:

Hall of Fame Bronze Busts :

George S. Halas NFC Championship Trophy

Lamar Hunt AFC Championship Trophy

Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide

Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

Heisman Trophy

History of the Hall of Fame

*located inside the Sportsworks Building

NFL Locker Room
Celebrate all 32 NFL teams with the sites and sounds of an NFL locker room, as it appears on gameday.
*located inside the Sportsworks Building

Pepsi Team Helmets
Fans can take their picture with an oversized replica of all 32 NFL team helmets, presented by Pepsi

Super Bowl Rings
See all 59 Super Bowl rings up close and in detail at the NFL Museum

NFL Shop
Stop by NFL Shop at Draft for the largest assortment of NFL Draft and NFL team merchandise.

NFL Films’ The Football Town

Football is part of what makes Western Pennsylvania special, and the story of this rich tradition is told in ‘The Football Town’, a special NFL Films presentation produced as part of Pittsburgh’s celebration of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The film, which is narrated by Pittsburgh-area native Pat McAfee, tells the story and shares the love of football in the region – delivered in a first-of-its-kind, immersive large screen format at the Rangos Giant Cinema at the Kamin Science Center, within the NFL Draft footprint.

SHOW TIMES:
Thursday April 23 & Friday April 24:  Gates Open at 12 p.m.
1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. 
(Broadcast begins at 8:00 pm Thursday / 7:00 pm Friday)

Saturday April 25:  Gates Open at 9 a.m.
10:00 a.m,,11:30 a.m.,1:00 p.m., and 2:30pm

NFL Draft Experience and Steelers Country hours are Thursday and Friday, noon to 10 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Draft Concerts Thursday, April 24 and Friday, April 25

The NFL Draft Concerts will take place on the NFL Draft Theater stage outside Acrisure Stadium and will feature two Pittsburgh area natives: Wiz Khalifa and Bret Michaels (April 24) and Kane Brown (April 25)

Other Events of Interest

Wednesday, April 22

Taste of the Draft

Presented by PNC Bank, Taste of the Draft is a culinary and gridiron extravaganza that will take place on the eve of the NFL Draft, Wednesday, April 22nd, benefiting GENYOUth’s mission to help end student hunger in Pennsylvania.

Join celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern and more than 20 beloved local chefs to celebrate Pittsburgh’s culinary heritage, mingle with past and present Steelers players and NFL legends, enjoy live entertainment, and experience surprise-and-delight moments throughout the evening.

Thursday, April 23

Cam’s Draft Party

All-Pro Steeler Defensive tackle Cam Heyward is throwing his Draft Party right in the thick of it at Tequila Cowboy. And at the same time he will be recording his @NotJustFootballwithCamHeyward podcast. Special guests include Aaron Donald, Jerome Bettis, Kevin Colbert, and Joey Porter Jr. There is a general admission ticket, a food buffet ticket, and a VIP option. Raffles, giveaways, and live music will all be part of the fun. Hopefully they’ve loaded in enough tequila, limes, and margarita mix. North Shore.

Pittsburgh Brewing and WTAE-TV Draft Watch Party

Pittsburgh Brewing Company and its Iron City Beer, the beer most associated with the Steelers over the years, is hosting its own Draft experience in two places. One is at their brewery in Creighton, where they are holding a large Draft Watch Party. WTAE-TV will broadcast live from this venue during the draft. Massive outdoor screens, fan zone activities, food trucks, and exclusive VIP experiences are some of the highlights. The event takes place on April 23. Pittsburgh Brewing has also opened a tap room in Downtown Pittsburgh so that visitors who have never tried the beer can have the genuinely local experience of “pumping an arn.” The taproom has a six month lease, but could possibly be extended beyond that.

Steel City Draft Night Watch Party

Watch round one of the NFL Draft in fantastic style at Pittsburgh’s Grand Hall at The Priory Hotel featuring a legendary live Q&A panel discussion with former Steeler’s Larry Brown, Jon Kolb, Rocky Bleier, John Banaszak, and special guest Marianne Noll (Coach Chuck Noll’s wife). Additional items include a buffet with reception seating, Black and Gold memorabilia silent auction, all with a cash bar. A VIP upgrade is also available and includes meet and greet with the celebrities, exclusive seating area, hors d’oeuvres, and an earlier cocktail hour. The event benefits Adventures in Training with a Purpose (ATP), a Christian nonprofit organization focused on serving civilians, veterans, and first responders by providing physical and mental health services to drastically improve quality of life. North Side.

Pitt Athletics and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Pitt Block Party at Arts Landing 

Pitt and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust are teaming up to host a showcase of Pitt Football and its ties to the NFL at the beautiful new Arts Landing civic space on Penn Avenue in the Cultural District. The three-day Pitt Block Party event will occur from April 23 to April 25. Attractions will include an experiential Pitt Football museum and interactive draft showcase highlighting Panther greats and the program’s NFL pipeline, live music and entertainment, food trucks, beverages, local vendors, an activity zone, and more.

Rick Handler is the executive producer of Entertainment Central.

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