When is the 2026 NFL Draft? How to watch on DAZN and other key offseason dates

The 2026 NFL Draft is almost upon us, and Pittsburgh is gearing up for one of the wildest nights of the year.

As the headline event of the offseason, it’s the moment when rosters change dramatically and franchises can go from pretenders to contenders almost overnight.

Not to be missed, here's how to watch the 2026 NFL Draft, live on DAZN, plus a rundown of other key offseason events.

Stream the 2026 NFL Draft live on DAZN

The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off in Pittsburgh on 23 April, and you can watch every round live on DAZN with a Game Pass subscription.

From just £9.99 / €9.99, witness the moment Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love and Carnell Tate hear their names called and walk on the draft stage as the next generation of NFL superstars.

Sign up for Game Pass now and get your front row seat to the 2026 NFL Draft.

The 2026 NFL Draft

Arguably the banner event in the offseason calendar, the 2026 NFL Draft will be held at Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh's North Shore.

The full event, which promises to be an incredible spectacle, will be available to watch live on DAZN for NFL Game Pass subscribers on DAZN.

As always, over seven rounds, teams will pick the next generation of NFL talent and reshape their long-term outlook.

Check out our latest mock draft to see which player we think your team will select, and see where your team will be picking in each round here.

Here's when to tune in on DAZN:

• Day one: Round 1
• Date and time (UK): Friday, April 24 at 1am BST
• Date and time (US): Thursday, April 23 at 8pm ET

Stream live as the Las Vegas Raiders weigh up last-minute trade talks, before spending the No. 1 pick on National Championship-winning former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Watch along to see which direction the Kansas City Chiefs go in at No. 9, and how the Dallas Cowboys decide to spend their two first-round picks.

• Day two: Rounds 2 and 3
• Date and time (UK): Saturday, April 25 at midnight BST
• Date and time (US): Friday, April 24 at 7pm ET

Rounds 2 and 3 can shape a franchise. Just ask the Cleveland Browns, who landed Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger on day two in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Chicago Bears picked Luther Burden III, the New Orleans Saints found quarterback Tyler Shough, and the Denver Broncos selected R.J. Harvey on the same day in 2025.

• Day three: Rounds 4, 5, 6 and 7
• Date and time (UK): Saturday, April 25 at 5pm BST
• Date and time (US): Saturday, April 25 at 12pm ET

Don’t underestimate the middle and late rounds. In 2025, Cam Skattebo and Woody Marks went on day three, and the Browns famously ended Shedeur Sanders' slide.

Need more convincing about how important the draft can be?

Rookie minicamps and OTAs

• Date: May-June

Not long after the draft, teams host rookie minicamps, offering a first look at new players in team colours as they get their first taste of learning the playbook.

Mandatory minicamps

• Date: Mid-June

Mandatory minicamps represent the final phase of organised offseason work, and the first time the entire roster comes together as one.

Sessions typically include light workouts, classroom instruction, and non-contact situational drills.

As the name implies, attendance is required, making these sessions notable for contract situations, holdouts, and early insight into each team's depth chart.

Almost every year, major storylines unfold around high-profile players who skip this event in hopes of forcing contract negotiations.

Training camp and preseason

• Date: July-August

Training camps open in late July, marking the true return of football action. Position battles intensify, highlight reels send social media into a frenzy, and joint practices add further intrigue.

Remember the non-stop drama surrounding Shedeur Sanders in last year's camp?

Imagine just how much media attention QB Fernando Mendoza will command in camp this year.

As the winner of both the College Football Playoff National Championship and the Heisman Trophy, Mendoza is widely expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Preseason games follow throughout August, giving fans their first live look at teams before the regular season begins.

The first preseason fixture is the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, held in Canton, Ohio, at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

That game serves as the backdrop to the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, where, this year, legends such as Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald will be inducted.

From offseason to kickoff

Once the preseason concludes, teams finalise rosters and turn their attention to Week 1.

The long journey from Super Bowl confetti to opening kickoff is complete, and another NFL season is ready to begin.

Full 2026 offseason schedule

Other offseason dates

A complete list of other offseason events and dates can be found here.