Who will your team take in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Who will your team take in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Watch every pick of the draft on the channel of your choice using our guide.
For football-starved fans, the NFL Draft is the highlight of the spring, giving them an opportunity to get excited about the future of their hometown team, or an excuse to complain about the horrible mismanagement of their favorite franchise. For these fans, the wait is almost over; the 2026 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 23, at 8 p.m. ET, kicking off three days of picks, trades, intrigue, or heartwarming stories. As in past years, the draft will be shown on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, with each offering a uniquely distinct presentation. Although there are many options to stream the event, we recommend watching the 2026 NFL Draft with a subscription to Hulu + Live TV.
How to watch the 2026 NFL Draft
- When: Round 1 begins on Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m. | Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. | Rounds 4 to 7 on Saturday, April 25 at 12 noon ET
- TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network
- Stream: Watch with a three-day free trial of Hulu + Live TV.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know about the 2026 NFL Draft
What is the schedule of the 2026 NFL Draft?
| Date | Time (ET) | Rounds | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, April 23 | 8 p.m. | 1 | ABC, ESPN, NFL Network |
| Friday, April 24 | 7 p.m. | 2 and 3 | ABC, ESPN, NFL Network |
| Saturday, April 25 | 12 noon | 4 to 7 | ABC, ESPN, NFL Network |
What are all the presentations of the 2026 NFL Draft?
ABC’s NFL Draft coverage will lean into a storytelling angle for each player, diving deep into each prospect’s path to the NFL and the moments and people that shaped the player they are today. ESPN and NFL Network will be more focused on team needs and on-field performance for each prospect, with special attention to athletic achievements and impact.
“The Pat McAfee Show Draft Spectacular” will return for the first round of the draft, and will stream across YouTube, TikTok, X, and the ESPN app. ESPN Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage for all seven rounds of the draft. And various podcasts, including “The Athletic Football Show,” will stream live on creator-driven platforms like YouTube during the draft.
Why do we recommend watching the 2026 NFL Draft with Hulu + Live TV?
Hulu + Live TV will allow fans to watch the 2026 NFL Draft on ABC, ESPN, or NFL Network, as the streamer carries all three in its package of 90+ channels. That means viewers get to enjoy draft coverage any way they choose, with the coverage team they trust the most.
The streamer also includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited subscriptions in all plans costing $90 per month and up, plus a three-day free trial for new subscribers. The NFL Draft will be shown on all three platforms this year, so a Hulu + Live TV subscription offers the most choices of any service for watching the draft.
Hulu Live TV
Hulu Live TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 70 channels for $89.99 per month. Hulu + Live TV base plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs). Subscribers get free access to Disney+ and ESPN Select at no extra charge.
Can you watch the 2026 NFL Draft for free?
There are other services that carry channels that offer NFL Draft coverage, and include free trials.
DIRECTV includes a five-day free trial for new subscribers. After the trial, its MySports Genre Pack starts at $45 per month, and the ENTERTAINMENT package at $90 per month.
Fubo includes a trial of between one and seven days, depending on factors like what time of month you subscribe. After the trial, Fubo’s Sports service starts at $46 per month.
YouTube TV has a free trial that can also vary in length, stretching between two and 21 days depending on several variables. After the trial, it starts at $55 per month for its Sports plan, or $83 per month for its core package.
Watch a preview of the NFL Draft
What are all the services you can use to watch the 2026 NFL Draft?
You can stream the 2026 NFL Draft with DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV. Sling TV customers can watch on ESPN with a Pass for Sling Orange starting at just $5 per day, or on NFL Network with Sling Select starting at $20 per month. Of all these choices, Hulu + Live TV is our favorite.
The 2026 NFL Draft will also stream in its entirety on Disney+ and Hulu. All subscribers will be able to stream ESPN’s coverage of the draft on these streamers; ad-supported plans to either streamer start at $12 per month, or viewers can bundle them together for just $13.
ESPN Unlimited will offer the 2026 NFL Draft from start to finish, with plans starting at $30 per month.
Viewers will be able to stream NFL Network’s coverage of the draft live on NFL+.
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| ABC | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| ESPN | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
| NFL Network | + $15 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
