Pittsburgh is returning to normal after the 2026 NFL Draft, which attracted 805,000 fans. While most roads have reopened, some closures remain in place for cleanup.
Key points
Pittsburgh hosted the 2026 NFL Draft.
805,000 fans attended the event.
Most roads have reopened after the draft.
Some areas remain closed for cleanup.
Mentioned in this story
Pittsburgh
NFL Draft 2026
NFL Draft is over, Pittsburgh road closures aren't. Avoid these streets
Following a record-setting three days that saw 805,000 fans football fans come to the Steel City, Pittsburgh is returning to normal after hosting 2026 NFL Draft.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
A general overall view of the downtown skyline and Fort Duquesne bridge of the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 22, 2026.
Large helmets of the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
A general overall view of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
Fans watch during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
A general overall view of Acrisure Stadium during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
A Pittsburgh Steelers fan plays a bagpipe in Market Square during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
Pittsburgh Steelers and Terrible Towel banners in Market Square during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
Local military members watch the Q&A session with ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes and Cam Heyward at the USAA NFL Draft event at the City Winery in the Strip District, Thursday, April 23, 2026 ahead of the first round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A Here We Go sign is featured at Steelers Country at the NFL Draft Fan Experience at Point State Park, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Construction crews continue to put the finishing touches on the draft theater Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from outside Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The NFL Draft Red Carpet at the NFL Draft Fan Experience at Point State Park, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A fan takes video of the Q&A session at the USAA NFL Draft event at the City Winery in the Strip District, Thursday, April 23, 2026 ahead of the first round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans pose at a 2026 NFL Draft activation in downtown on April 22, 2026.
A City of Pittsburgh River Rescue boat sails along the Allegheny River near Acrisure Stadium during the 2026 NFL Draft on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A general overall view of 2026 NFL Draft banners on the Roberto Clemente aka Sixth Street bridge on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A statue of former Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente outside the center field gate of PNC Park on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A general overall view of large Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts helmet at the 2026 NFL Draft Experience at Acrisure Stadium on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A statue of Pittsburgh Steeles fullback Franco Harris completing the Immaculate Reception at the Pittsburgh International Airport on April 21, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Street banners promoting the 2026 NFL Draft in downtown on April 21, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Duval representing in Pittsburgh as Nikki Mcglockton aka Tally Jag, right, and Jerome Johnson, aka Jaxonball Z, gear up for Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on April 23, 2026.
Bengals Twins Steve, left, and Jeff, prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, in downtown Pittsburgh, where they want their team to draft 'defense, defense, defense.'
Tennessee Titans cheerleaders excited for Round 1 of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
1 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
The 2026 NFL Draft Theater stage at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
1 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
The 2026 NFL Draft Theater stage at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
2 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of the downtown skyline and Fort Duquesne bridge of the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 22, 2026.
3 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Large helmets of the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
4 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
5 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Fans watch during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
6 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of Acrisure Stadium during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
7 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A Pittsburgh Steelers fan plays a bagpipe in Market Square during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
8 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers and Terrible Towel banners in Market Square during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
9 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Local military members watch the Q&A session with ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes and Cam Heyward at the USAA NFL Draft event at the City Winery in the Strip District, Thursday, April 23, 2026 ahead of the first round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa.
10 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A Here We Go sign is featured at Steelers Country at the NFL Draft Fan Experience at Point State Park, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
11 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Construction crews continue to put the finishing touches on the draft theater Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from outside Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
12 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
The NFL Draft Red Carpet at the NFL Draft Fan Experience at Point State Park, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
13 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A fan takes video of the Q&A session at the USAA NFL Draft event at the City Winery in the Strip District, Thursday, April 23, 2026 ahead of the first round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa.
14 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers fans pose at a 2026 NFL Draft activation in downtown on April 22, 2026.
15 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A City of Pittsburgh River Rescue boat sails along the Allegheny River near Acrisure Stadium during the 2026 NFL Draft on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
16 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of 2026 NFL Draft banners on the Roberto Clemente aka Sixth Street bridge on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
17 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A statue of former Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente outside the center field gate of PNC Park on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
18 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of large Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts helmet at the 2026 NFL Draft Experience at Acrisure Stadium on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
19 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A statue of Pittsburgh Steeles fullback Franco Harris completing the Immaculate Reception at the Pittsburgh International Airport on April 21, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
20 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Street banners promoting the 2026 NFL Draft in downtown on April 21, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
21 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Duval representing in Pittsburgh as Nikki Mcglockton aka Tally Jag, right, and Jerome Johnson, aka Jaxonball Z, gear up for Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on April 23, 2026.
22 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Bengals Twins Steve, left, and Jeff, prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, in downtown Pittsburgh, where they want their team to draft 'defense, defense, defense.'
23 / 23
Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Tennessee Titans cheerleaders excited for Round 1 of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
More Pittsburgh roads to close in May
After the roads that are closed from April 26 to May 1 are set to reopen, three more Pittsburgh streets will be blocked near Acrisure Stadium. From May 7-10, these streets will be shut down:
Art Rooney Drive
West General Robinson Street to Tony Dorsett Drive
Scotland Avenue
Roads reopen following the NFL Draft
During the NFL Draft, from April 22-25, 17 roads were closed to traffic. Following the draft, they're open again. These roads include:
Sproat Way
North Shore Drive from Chuck Noll Way to Mazeroski Way
Mazeroski Way
West General Robinson Street
Lacock Street
I-279 southbound Exit 1B ramp
Route 65 southbound ramp to Fort Duquesne Bridge
Route 65 northbound ramp from Fort Duquesne Bridge
T1 ramp from Reedsdale Street
6th Street Bridge, or the Roberto Clemente Bridge
7th Street Bridge, or the Andy Warhol Bridge
Sixth Street
Fort Pitt Bridge on-ramp from 10th Street Bypass
Commonwealth Place
Liberty Avenue Extension
Penn Avenue from Stanwix Street to 9th Street
Liberty Avenue/PPG Paints Arena Exit off Fort Pitt Bridge
Where did the NFL Draft take place?
Events scheduled during the NFL Draft were split across the Allegheny River, with the Draft Theater and Main Stage located on the North Shore in the area outside Acrisure Stadium, according to Visit Pittsburgh. The NFL Draft Experience, a free fan festival, was set up at Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh.