The NFL Draft has become a spectacle of sports, and arguably the biggest destination event in football behind the Super Bowl. The annual event used to be held in New York City. But since taking its show on the road, it’s become an off-season party spot for fans of all teams and a showcase for the cities. 

The 2023 NFL Draft was held in Kansas City, and an estimated 312,000 fans came to the free event. The 2024 draft will make its way to Detroit before heading to Green Bay in 2025. 

Which city will get the honor of hosting the 2026 NFL Draft? Many of them want it, but only one will get it. Bookies.com veteran oddsmaker Adam Thompson has utilized his resources of 20 years covering the NFL to set hypothetical NFL futures odds as to which city brings the NFL circus in spring of ’26. 

2026 NFL Draft Location Odds

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Which City Will Host The 2026 NFL Draft?

From 1965-2014, the NFL Draft was held in New York City (mostly at Radio City Music Hall). A scheduling conflict forced the NFL to hit the road in 2015. The NFL Draft road show has proven to be monumentally popular and the league has never looked back.

The NFL Draft has been held in Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Nashville, Cleveland, Las Vegas and Kansas City (with one remote draft in 2020). Detroit and Green Bay are next up. Presumably, none of those six locales would be up for another hosting spot in 2026. 

While the Super Bowl is limited to spots with a ton of hotels and nice weather nearly guaranteed, the NFL Draft can go to any city with the means to host a huge event. Green Bay is often considered the Mecca of pro football, but it tiny Titletown can host such an event, it stands to reason that any NFL city can. 

The NFL Draft is a massive boon to the local economy, so it’s no wonder communities want it.

The Washington Commanders have applied to be a host on several occasions but has yet to get the nod. It’s not hard to see the reason why. The team owners vote on the spot, and Commanders owner Daniel Snyder was universally disliked. A new ownership group, led by 76ers owner Josh Harris, should be firmly in charge by 2026, but expect a feeling out period before the new guy gets the prize.

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Charlotte and the Carolina Panthers sent a contingent to Kansas City to see if its own town could handle such an event. The expectation is that, yes, it can. Carolina has tried to get the draft before and is expected to be a strong candidate. Its success hosting the NBA All-Star Game (in 2019) and a PGA Championship in 2022 (and again in 2025) doesn’t hurt.

In 2022, the Denver Broncos expressed an interest in hosting an NFL Draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars have in recent years, too. 

The New England Patriots, and Boston, were the favorites to host the 2022 NFL Draft before it was ultimately given to Las Vegas. The Pats should be on a short list to get their opportunity soon. 

The Indianapolis Colts have submitted “expressions of interest” for hosting both a Super Bowl and NFL Draft. It’s been more than a decade since Indy hosted a Super Bowl, so the city could be back in the rotation for one of the two massive events shortly. The Houston Texans got the Super Bowl for the 2016 season but could be back in line for a major event, as well. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers also sent a group to KC. The Steelers have never submitted a bid to host an NFL Draft, but city officials have expressed an interest. It may be a few years to catch up to the teams who have been submitting proposals annually, so they’re part of The Field for now. 

Some cities have expressed hope of hosting an NFL Draft, but are realistic it may not be until later. Teams that haven’t hosted Super Bowls lately are also reportedly given preference. That could knock the likes of recent hosts Minnesota, Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston and Tampa Bay down a notch, as well as future sites including Las Vegas, New Orleans and San Francisco. 

The Vikings’ community has pushed to host a draft sooner than later. The Cincinnati Bengals want to host an NFL Draft, but their goal is to host one between 2027-29. 

Nashville and the Tennessee Titans may have the best shot at hosting a second NFL Draft. The first time, in 2019, drew a record 600,000 people and sparked the biggest tourism season in city history. They applied for both the ’24 and ’25 drafts but were denied. A return to the draft’s roots, in New York, is a possibility as well. 

The Field includes teams/cities that have already hosted the event but would like another go-around, including Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas and Philadelphia, as well as other teams that may take the leap sooner than later. 

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