The National Football League announced Thursday that the 2027 NFL Draft will take place April 29 through May 1 in Washington, D.C.
Mark your calendars 📅
The 2027 #NFLDraft in Washington D.C. will take place April 29 – May 1! pic.twitter.com/bXrXFiqr4h
— NFL (@NFL) June 25, 2026
The event will be staged primarily on the National Mall, with additional activities along Pennsylvania Avenue and other iconic landmarks in the nation’s capital.
This marks the first time the draft returns to Washington since 1941.
“The NFL Draft has become a marquee event, uniting fans across the country and around the world,” Goodell said in the original announcement. “We are excited to bring the 2027 Draft to Washington, D.C., a city rich in history and national pride.”
The three-day event is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of in-person attendees and millions of viewers worldwide. Organizers anticipate more than one million fans across the weekend, building on recent record attendance figures. The 2024 draft in Detroit drew 775,000 fans, while the 2025 event in Green Bay attracted more than 600,000.
The draft will feature the main stage on the National Mall facing the U.S. Capitol, free fan festivals, interactive exhibits, a Draft Concert Series, youth activities in the Play 60 Zone, merchandise shops, and autograph sessions.
History and Context
Washington, D.C., hosted the NFL Draft once before, in 1941 at the Willard Hotel. That was the only time the event has been held in the capital until the upcoming 2027 edition.
From 1965 through 2014, the draft was held annually in New York City, according to Fox Sports. Since moving to a destination format in 2015, it has rotated through cities including Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Nashville, Detroit, and Green Bay.
The 2027 selection was made in partnership with the Washington Commanders and Events DC, the city’s convention and sports authority.
“This is a historic occasion for Washington, D.C., and we are absolutely honored to host the 2027 NFL Draft,” said Events DC President and CEO Angie M. Gates.
The dates align with the traditional late-April timing for the draft, avoiding conflicts with other major spring events.
Tickets and hospitality packages for the 2027 NFL Draft are already available through On Location, the league’s official hospitality provider. Free fan registration for experiences is open on NFL.com.
