Pittsburgh prepares for the 2026 NFL Draft: What you need to know
Pittsburgh is preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft, expecting up to 700,000 visitors. The event will fill local hotels and boost the economy.
Pittsburgh is preparing to host the 2026 NFL Draft, which is expected to be the largest event in the city’s history.Officials estimate between 500,000 and 700,000 visitors will attend the event from April 23 to April 25.Hotel room rates are expected to increase significantly, similar to price hikes seen during Taylor Swift’s 2023 concerts.
Pittsburgh is gearing up to host what will likely be the largest event in city history, preparing to welcome hundreds of thousands of people for the NFL Draft in April 2026.
The draft drew more than 300,000 people to Green Bay, Wisconsin, in April 2024 and pumped roughly $73 million into the local economy. Based on this and turnouts for drafts held elsewhere, the tourism group Visit Pittsburgh has estimated that between 500,000 and 700,000 visitors will show up for the draft next year.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime event for us here in Pittsburgh,” said Perry Ivery, general manager of the Oaklander Hotel and president of the Greater Pittsburgh Hotel Association. “It’s our time to shine.”
These crowds will likely fill hotels in Allegheny County and nearby to the brim when they arrive for the event, which runs from April 23 to April 25. So if you’re a football fan thinking of attending, or want to visit Pittsburgh for another reason during the draft, here’s some guidance from local experts.
Does Pittsburgh have enough lodging for everyone?
Ivery said Allegheny County has about 19,000 hotel rooms, while the wider region provides about 35,000 rooms. He anticipates that it will be enough to accommodate visitors for the draft, since many people will only stay for one night or will head back home to sleep.
Airbnb and other sites offering short-term rentals will also help bolster lodging capacity, he added.
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During past NFL drafts, about 80% of the overnight visitors chose hotels for their accommodations, while the remainder turned to short-term rentals, according to VisitPittsburgh. They anticipate a similar breakdown in 2026 when the Pittsburgh Steelers are the host franchise.
When should I book a hotel for draft weekend?
Some people are already starting to book their rooms for the draft days, Ivery said. But he would advise seeking a spot right after the Super Bowl, when the NFL announces the order in which teams will make their picks.
Super Bowl 60 is scheduled for Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.
“When the draft order is announced, you should see hotels start to open up and get good deals,” he said.
Visit Pittsburgh representatives encouraged people to start making reservations sooner rather than later.
Jerad Bachar, the CEO and president of Visit Pittsburgh, said hotels near the main venues or the Three Rivers are already starting to fill, and some are imposing minimum-stay requirements. So he would encourage people not to limit their search to these areas when they’re seeking lodging.
“Our southern and eastern neighborhoods and the broader 10-county region offer a variety of accommodations with convenient access to the event,” he said in a statement.
How will the draft affect room rates?
Taylor Swift’s concert performances in Pittsburgh in 2023 generated record-breaking crowds for the Steel City, Ivery noted, and caused hotel reservations to roughly double in price year-over-year. The average hotel room cost more than $300, according to Visit Pittsburgh.
At the Oaklander Hotel, near the University of Pittsburgh campus, average room rates have jumped to between $500 and $700 per night during special events, Ivery said. He said he’d expect to see comparable price increases during the NFL Draft dates.
Should I steer clear of Pittsburgh if I’m not interested in the draft?
Ivery said people shouldn’t avoid the city during the dates of the NFL Draft, even if they’re not coming for the big event. Pittsburgh has plenty of hotel space to go around, he said, and there’s no shortage of sights and activities.
That said, visitors who aren’t interested in the event might have more flexibility when it comes to finding lodging if they schedule their trip for a different time, Bachar said.
The city is best known for its grit and hard workers, but Ivery said this high-profile event is a chance to showcase Pittsburgh’s beauty and attractions, like the museum dedicated to artist Andy Warhol.
“We are excited to show our city off,” he said.
Bethany Rodgers is a USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania investigative journalist.