What Time Does the 2026 NFL Draft Start? Full Schedule, TV Channel & Live-Stream Details

Want to know exactly when the NFL puts the Las Vegas Raiders on the clock? Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 23, at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT, 6 p.m. MT, 5 p.m. PT) on the North Shore of Pittsburgh. Full three-day draft schedule (Eastern Time) • Thursday, April 23 – Round 1: 8 p.m. start, ends around 11 p.m. • Friday, April 24 – Rounds 2–3: 7 p.m.–11 p.m. • Saturday, April 25 – Rounds 4–7: noon–6 p.m. Where to watch • TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network and ESPN Deportes will simulcast all seven rounds • Streaming: NFL+ (mobile), ESPN app, ABC app, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, and most live-TV services carry the broadcast feeds Key facts fans search for • Location: Acrisure Stadium draft theater with fan festival in Point State Park. • First pick: Las Vegas Raiders hold No. 1 overall after a 2-15 season. • Selection clock: 8 minutes per pick in Round 1; 7 in Round 2; 5 in Rounds 3-6; 4 in Round 7. • National anthem: Pittsburgh’s own KELS headlines the pre-show. • Free entry: The Draft Experience opens noon ET Thursday; register via NFL OnePass for a QR code. Pro tips for draft-day viewing 1. Tune in 30 minutes early—networks air red-carpet arrivals and prospect interviews starting 7:30 p.m. ET. 2. Streaming on the go? Download apps and sign in before kickoff to avoid authentication delays. 3. Expect trades: almost half of first-round slots changed hands in 2025, and front offices are again eyeing quarterback moves. 4. Follow local traffic alerts if heading downtown; several street closures surround Acrisure Stadium. Whether you’re in Pittsburgh’s draft village or on the couch, lock in by 8 p.m. ET Thursday so you don’t miss Commissioner Roger Goodell announcing the first name off the board—and the unofficial start of the 2026 NFL season.