For UK fans of American football, staying up late is just part of the NFL Draft experience. The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 23, at 8:00 PM ET — which is 1:00 AM BST for British viewers, according to the NFL’s official schedule.

4 related posts

Round 1 start (ET): 8:00 PM ET · First pick announced: 8:10–8:15 PM ET · Round 1 start (BST): 1:00 AM BST · Event dates 2026: Fourth Thursday–Saturday of April

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact minute the first pick is made (depends on trades and clock usage) (CBS Sports (sports broadcaster))
  • Chiefs’ Mr. Irrelevant pick in 2026 (not yet determined) (CBS Sports (sports broadcaster))
  • Streaming platform availability may change before April (CBS Sports (sports broadcaster))
  • Who will be the first overall pick is not yet known (CBS Sports (sports broadcaster))
  • Chiefs’ last pick status depends on Super Bowl outcome – not guaranteed (CBS Sports (sports broadcaster))
3Timeline signal
  • Day 1 (Thu Apr 23): Round 1 – 8:00 PM ET / 1:00 AM BST (CBS Sports) (Kansas City Chiefs)
  • Day 2 (Fri Apr 24): Rounds 2–3 – 7:00 PM ET / 12:00 AM BST (Sat) (Kansas City Chiefs)
  • Day 3 (Sat Apr 25): Rounds 4–7 – 12:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM BST (Kansas City Chiefs) (Kansas City Chiefs)
4What’s next

Eleven key data points, one pattern: the UK start times are early-morning affairs, but every round has a clear window.

Item Details
Event 2026 NFL Draft
Dates – (fourth Thu–Sat)
Round 1 start (ET) 8:00 PM
Round 1 start (BST) 1:00 AM
Coverage start 8:00 PM ET
First pick approx. 8:10–8:15 PM ET
Day 2 start (ET) 7:00 PM (Friday)
Day 3 start (ET) 12:00 PM (Saturday)
US TV ESPN, ABC, NFL Network
UK TV Sky Sports NFL
Mr. Irrelevant (Chiefs) Final pick (pick #257)
Bottom line: The implication: the kick-off times are fixed, but the exact moment of the first pick can slip by 10–15 minutes due to pre-draft pageantry and trade negotiations.

What time does the NFL draft start in the UK?

Coverage vs pick time

  • TV coverage for Round 1 begins at 8:00 PM ET / 1:00 AM BST (NFL.com)
  • The first actual pick is typically announced 10–15 minutes later, at around 8:10–8:15 PM ET (CBS Sports)
  • UK fans should tune in at 1:00 AM BST and expect the opening selection shortly after the clock starts

Round 1 start in BST and ET

  • 2026 NFL Draft Round 1 starts at 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, April 23, 2026 (NFL.com)
  • That converts to 1:00 AM BST on Friday, April 24, 2026 (Radio Times (UK listings guide))
  • The event is held at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (NFL.com)
The upshot

UK viewers trading sleep for live picks get a clean deal: the first pick of the entire draft lands around 1:10–1:15 AM BST, and the entire first round could stretch past 5 AM BST if teams use their full eight-minute clocks.

The pattern for UK fans is simple: if you want to see the first selection live, your alarm is set for 1 AM, not midnight.

What time is round 1 of the NFL draft?

Exact start time for Round 1

  • 8:00 PM ET — that’s the official start of Round 1 coverage on all networks (NFL.com)
  • 1:00 AM BST — the equivalent UK time (Kansas City Chiefs)
  • 5:00 PM PT — for fans on the U.S. West Coast (DAZN (sports streaming service))

How long until first pick

  • The pre-draft show starts at 8:00 PM ET, but the actual first pick happens after the commissioner’s opening remarks
  • CBS Sports reports the first pick is usually made around 8:10–8:15 PM ET (CBS Sports)
  • DAZN estimates that if every team used its full eight-minute allocation, the first round could last up to four hours and 16 minutes, pushing the finish to around 5:16 AM BST (DAZN)

What this means: the advertised start is 8 ET, but the real drama (the first name called) doesn’t begin until roughly ten minutes into the broadcast.

What TV channel is the NFL draft on?

US broadcast: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network

  • The NFL’s Day 1 coverage is carried by NFL Network, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes (NFL.com)
  • ABC also simulcasts the first round in many markets
  • CBS Sports is not listed as a rights holder for the 2026 draft (they cover analysis but don’t simulcast the event)

Streaming options

  • In the US, fans can stream via ESPN App, NFL+, fuboTV, and YouTube TV (various providers)
  • For UK viewers, streaming is available through DAZN (NFL Game Pass) — a free option with a valid subscription (Radio Times)
  • BBC and ITV do not currently hold NFL Draft rights for the UK
Why this matters

With the draft split across three networks in the US, cord-cutters in the UK have one reliable go-to: Sky Sports NFL or DAZN. There’s no fragmented broadcast for British fans — pick your service and you get the whole weekend.

The catch: free streaming options are limited outside of the NFL Game Pass trial, so plan ahead if you don’t have Sky Sports.

Is the NFL Draft on Sky Sports UK?

UK TV channels

  • Yes — Sky Sports NFL holds the UK broadcast rights. Radio Times confirms that coverage airs on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event (Radio Times)
  • Round 1 kicks off at 1:00 AM BST on Friday, April 24 on these channels
  • Rounds 2–3 start at 12:00 AM BST on Saturday, April 25 (Friday night UK time) (Radio Times)
  • Rounds 4–7 begin at 5:00 PM BST on Saturday, April 25 (Radio Times)

Free streaming alternatives

  • Fans without Sky Sports can watch via NFL Game Pass on DAZN — available on a subscription basis, sometimes with a free trial period (Radio Times)
  • DAZN also carries live coverage across web, mobile, and smart TV apps
  • Radio Times notes that the UK start times listed above are subject to confirmation closer to the event

The trade-off: Sky Sports offers the most straightforward live experience, but DAZN gives mobile-friendly flexibility and potentially a lower-cost entry point.

Who was Mr. Irrelevant for the Chiefs?

Definition of Mr. Irrelevant

  • “Mr. Irrelevant” is the nickname given to the final pick of the NFL Draft — the 257th selection in a standard seven-round draft (varies slightly with compensatory picks) (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
  • The term was coined in 1976 by former NFL player Paul Salata
  • Each Mr. Irrelevant is honoured with a week-long celebration in Newport Beach, California

Chiefs’ 2026 Mr. Irrelevant pick

  • The Kansas City Chiefs hold the last pick in the 2026 NFL Draft as the reigning Super Bowl champions (Kansas City Chiefs)
  • Who will be Mr. Irrelevant for the Chiefs in 2026 is not yet known — the pick happens on Day 3 (Saturday, April 25)
  • Past notable Mr. Irrelevant selections include Ryan Succop (2009) who became a long-time NFL kicker and Chad Kelly (2017) (Wikipedia)

The implication: the final pick may not make headlines on draft night, but history shows that some Mr. Irrelevant players carve out real NFL careers — and the Chiefs’ 2026 selection will carry that legacy.

How to watch the NFL Draft in the UK (steps)

  1. Pick your platform: Sky Sports NFL (Sky TV), DAZN (streaming) or NFL Game Pass. Assess cost and availability.
  2. Convert the times: Round 1 = 1:00 AM BST (Fri Apr 24), Rounds 2–3 = 12:00 AM BST (Sat Apr 25), Rounds 4–7 = 5:00 PM BST (Sat Apr 25).
  3. Set a reminder: If you only want the first pick, set an alarm for 1:00 AM BST and have the stream ready by 1:10 AM.
  4. Consider replays: If staying up is impossible, both Sky Sports and DAZN offer on-demand highlights and full replay.
Bottom line: UK fans watching the 2026 NFL Draft live face early-morning alarms for the first round, but the weekend schedule becomes progressively more civilised. Sky Sports subscribers get the easiest route; DAZN provides a flexible streaming alternative. Plan your sleep accordingly — or embrace the caffeine.

Timeline

  • Thursday, April 23, 2026 (Day 1) – Round 1 starts at / (Friday morning UK). Coverage on NFL Network, ESPN, ABC. First pick around 8:10–8:15 ET. (NFL.com)
  • Friday, April 24, 2026 (Day 2) – Rounds 2–3 start at / (Saturday morning UK). Broadcast on ESPN, ABC, NFL Network. (Kansas City Chiefs)
  • Saturday, April 25, 2026 (Day 3) – Rounds 4–7 start at / . Day session ends in the early evening UK time. (Kansas City Chiefs)

These times are locked by the league, but trade activity can shift the exact moment of each pick.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • 2026 NFL Draft dates: April 23–25, 2026 (fourth Thursday to Saturday of April) (NFL.com)
  • Round 1 start time: 8:00 PM ET / 1:00 AM BST (Kansas City Chiefs)
  • UK TV rights: Sky Sports NFL (Radio Times confirms) (Radio Times)

What’s unclear

  • Exact minute the first pick is made (depends on trades and clock management)
  • Chiefs’ Mr. Irrelevant pick in 2026 (not yet known)
  • Specific streaming platform availability may change before event
  • First pick typically announced 8:10–8:15 PM ET (CBS Sports) – an estimate, not guaranteed
  • Chiefs hold last pick only if they win the Super Bowl – not yet decided

These distinctions help viewers manage expectations: some numbers are fixed, others are best guesses.

Expert quotes on the 2026 NFL Draft

“The first pick is typically announced around 8:10-8:15 p.m. ET.”

— CBS Sports (sports broadcaster)

“Round 1 starts at 1am BST / 8pm ET / 5pm PT”

— DAZN UK (sports streaming service)

The event is “held on the fourth Thursday of April to the fourth Saturday of April.”

— Wikipedia (encyclopedia)

The experts all agree on the core timing, even if the exact second varies.

Summary

The 2026 NFL Draft is a three-day event that demands patience from UK viewers: the marquee first round kicks off at 1:00 AM BST, but the weekend becomes progressively easier with a 5:00 PM Saturday finale. Whether you invest in Sky Sports or lean on DAZN’s streaming, the key is knowing exactly when each day’s coverage starts. For UK fans, the decision is clear: if you want to catch the first pick live, set your alarm for 1:00 AM BST on Friday, or risk waking up to Twitter spoilers.

Related reading: 49ers vs Seahawks Stats · Sports News Updates 2025

Additional sources

sports.yahoo.com, reddit.com, techradar.com, en.wikipedia.org, cincinnati.com, nfl.com

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Frequently asked questions

How long does the first round of the NFL Draft last?

Each team has up to eight minutes between picks, so the first round can theoretically last over four hours. In practice, it typically takes around three to three and a half hours. DAZN estimates a maximum finish time of around 5:16 AM BST if every team uses its full clock (DAZN).

Can I watch the NFL Draft for free in the UK?

You may access a free trial of NFL Game Pass via DAZN around the draft period. Otherwise, the draft is only available on Sky Sports NFL (subscription) or DAZN (paid subscription). Check DAZN’s latest offers before the event.

What time does the NFL Draft start in Pacific Time?

Round 1 starts at 5:00 PM PT on Thursday, April 23, 2026. The first pick is typically announced around 5:10–5:15 PM PT.

Will the draft be on ABC in the US?

Yes, ABC is expected to broadcast the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, alongside ESPN and NFL Network. ABC’s coverage often includes additional commentary and analysis.

How many picks are in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The total number of picks in the 2026 NFL Draft is 257, including compensatory selections. The Kansas City Chiefs hold pick #257 (the last pick) as Mr. Irrelevant.

Who has the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The team with the first pick is determined by the 2025 regular season standings. As of now, the identity of that team is not yet known, as the 2025 season has not been played.

What is the time difference between ET and BST for the draft?

British Summer Time (BST) is 5 hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET). So 8:00 PM ET = 1:00 AM BST (the following day).