Among the many events on the NFL’s calendar, the draft might be second to only the Super Bowl in terms of fan interest and excitement. The draft itself has always garnered a large audience, as droves of fans, from the casuals to the diehards, tune in to see who will be the top pick and which prospects their team will ultimately select after months of speculation.
In recent years, the NFL draft has turned into an even more massive spectacle thanks to the event moving to different host cities. Since 1965, 11 different cities have hosted the event. From 1965 to 2014, the draft's primary location was in Radio City Music Hall in New York City. But in 2015 and 2016, the draft was held in Chicago, and the event has rotated from host city to host city since.
Each host city brings a different vibe and unique experience that only adds to the draft's appeal as a flagship event. So, as the league continues to rotate locations, several cities are contending to host the draft. This article will go over the confirmed draft locations for 2027 and 2028, explore which cities could potentially host the event in 2029 and beyond, and explain how the league picks draft locations.
So, without further ado, we are on the clock!
Confirmed NFL Draft Locations: 2027 & 2028
2027 NFL draft—Washington D.C.
Dates: April 29-May 1
Washington D.C. officially secured the 2027 NFL draft last year. Confirming prior reporting, United States president Donald Trump, along with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris, on May 5, 2025, announced that the '27 draft will be held in Washington D.C. The draft will be held on the National Mall, where the Washington Monument is located. The nation's capital offers no shortage of historic spots and unique scenes that figure to make it an unforgettable experience as a host city. To that end, Goodell announced that he expects over one million fans to attend the three-day event in D.C. The news that Washington D.C. has landed the '27 draft comes on the heels of an announcement that the Commanders reached agreement to build a 65,000-seat stadium on the site of their old home, RFK Stadium.
The dates for the 2027 NFL draft have also finally been announced, with Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reporting the event will officially take place from April 29 to May 1. As Breer recently noted, it took the NFL longer than normal to announce the dates for next year’s draft. Day 3 notably will take place on May 1, the same day as the Kentucky Derby.
2028 NFL draft—Minneapolis, Minn.
Dates: TBD
The 2028 NFL draft is officially heading to Minnesota, bringing one of the league’s signature events back to the Twin Cities for the first time since Super Bowl LII in 2018. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that NFL owners approved Minneapolis as the host of the draft in 2028, marking the first time the city will host the draft. Outside of the draft, there are plenty of sights for fans in attendance to take in, from the historic music venue First Avenue to the Mall of America, the largest mall in the country. The Vikings are the fourth NFC North team to host the draft, as their rivals have all done so over the past 10 years—the Bears in 2015 and ’16, the Lions in ’24 and the Packers in ’25.
Predicting NFL draft locations in 2029 & 2030
2029 NFL draft—Cincinnati, OH
Both Buffalo and Cincinnati were interested in hosting the 2028 NFL draft, but Minneapolis ultimately won the bid. According to a report from Sports Business Journal, some sources have said the city of Cincinnati has the “inside track” to landing the draft in 2029. This would be the first time the city hosts the draft and the second time it is held in Ohio after Cleveland hosted the event back in 2021.
2030 NFL draft—Orchard Park, N.Y.
Bills fans are as passionate as any fan base in the NFL, so hosting the NFL draft in Buffalo would put the organization's dedicated and loyal supporters in the limelight. Hosting the NFL draft in Buffalo would also put a spotlight on the Bills' new Highmark Stadium, which broke ground in June of 2023 and just opened in June. The Bills previously bid to host the 2028 NFL draft, but will now look to host it in a future year.
Other cities that could host a future NFL draft
In addition to the aforementioned cities, here are several locations where the NFL draft could be held in 2030 and beyond.
| Potential NFL Draft Locations | Why? |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia | Hosted in 2017 and could return. Passionate sports town and historic city. |
| Las Vegas | Previously hosted in 2022. Major resort city with growing sports presence. |
| Los Angeles | Hasn't hosted since NFL rotated cities. SoFi Stadium would be the premier venue for thedraft. |
| Dallas | Hosted in 2018. Great sports town with rich football history. |
| Charlotte, N.C. | Has never hosted. Rising football city with energetic fanbase and strong event infrastructure. |
| Nashville | Hosted record-breaking draft in 2019 that drew over 600,000 fans. |
| Cleveland | Hosted the draft in 2021, but the event was limited due to restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic. The city would like another shot at hosting. |
Full history of NFL draft locations
Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of where the NFL draft was hosted, starting with the 1936 edition of the draft in Philadelphia.
| YEAR | LOCATION |
|---|---|
| 1936 | Philadelphia |
| 1937 | New York City |
| 1938 | Chicago |
| 1939 | New York City |
| 1940 | Milwaukee |
| 1941 | Washington, D.C. |
| 1942–43 | Chicago |
| 1944 | Philadelphia |
| 1945 to ’47 | New York City |
| 1948 | Pittsburgh |
| 1949 to ’50 | Philadelphia |
| 1951 | Chicago |
| 1952 | New York City |
| 1953 to ’54 | Philadelphia |
| 1955 | New York City |
| 1956 to ’61 | Philadelphia |
| 1962 to ’64 | Chicago |
| 1965 to 2014 | New York City |
| 2015 | Chicago |
| 2016 | Chicago |
| 2017 | Philadelphia |
| 2018 | Arlington, Texas |
| 2019 | Nashville |
| 2020 | Virtual (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| 2021 | Cleveland |
| 2022 | Las Vegas |
| 2023 | Kansas City |
| 2024 | Detroit |
| 2025 | Green Bay |
| 2026 | Pittsburgh |
| 2027 | Washington, D.C. |
| 2028 | Minneapolis |
How does the NFL pick draft locations?
In a process similar to the selection of the site of the Super Bowl, cities must bid for the right to host the NFL draft. The league then reviews each city's bid and the 32 NFL owners then vote on the matter. In choosing a host city for the draft, the league considers factors such as fan engagement and atmosphere, logistics and infrastructure, and venue availability and size.
Final Predictions: What’s next for the NFL draft?
As mentioned, the 2026 NFL draft was held in Pittsburgh, the '27 draft in Washington D.C. and the ‘28 draft in Minneapolis. But where will the draft go next? Let's make a few predictions.
