How to Watch the 2026 NFL Draft Online for Free
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The time has come for college football players to find out their futures in the pros. The 2026 NFL Draft is set for April 23, 2026 through April 25, 2026 in Pittsburgh. Out of all 32 teams in the League, the Las Vegas raiders get the first pick of the draft, with the New York Jets to follow. All eyes are on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, alongside Rueben Bain Jr., Arvell Reese, and other top prospects. If you want to see these big decisions unfold in real time, we looked into how you can watch the 2026 NFL Draft online for free, including which channels the event will air on and which streaming options are available if you don’t have cable.
At a Glance: How to Watch the 2026 NFL Draft Online for Free
- Streaming Options: DirecTV, Fubo, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV
- TV Channels: NFL Network, ABC, ESPN
- Dates: Thursday, April 23, 2026 through Saturday, April 25, 2026
- Time: 8 p.m. ET (for Round 1)
How to Watch the 2026 NFL Draft Online for Free
The 2026 NFL Draft will be broadcast on NFL Network, ABC, and ESPN. Here’s a breakdown of which streaming services carry each of these three channels and how much they cost.
NFL Network
- DirecTV Stream: DirecTV’s Choice, Ultimate, and Premier plans include the NFL Network (the cheapest plan, Entertainment, does not include the NFL Network). Choice starts at $94.99 per month, but you can get it for $59.99 per month for your first month. Another great option is the streaming service’s genre packs. The MySports one typically costs $64.99 per month but is $20 off for your first two months, bringing its price down to $44.99/month right now.
- Fubo: All three traditional plans—Pro, Elite, and Premier—have the NFL Network. Pro starts at $48.99 per month after the free trial (usually $73.99 per month). Also, check out Fubo’s sports packages to get the NFL Network. Fubo Sports + News starts at $55.99 per month, but is currently on sale for $45.99/month for your first month.
- Sling TV: Sling Blue and Sling Orange + Blue both consist of the NFL Network, with Sling Blue costing $45.99 per month. If you’re shopping on a tight budget, though, take a look at Sling Select, which is a curated selection of channels that include the NFL Network. This package will ring you up for just $19.99 per month.
- Hulu + Live TV: The most basic Hulu + Live TV plan lets you watch the NFL Network for $89.99 per month. The best part about this option is that it bundles Disney+ and ESPN, so you get to choose from an even bigger library. While this streamer costs more than the others per month, it technically gives you the best value.
ABC
- DirecTV Stream: All four DirecTV plans—Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier—include ABC. While the most basic option, Entertainment, goes for $89.99 per month, Choice is currently discounted to $59.99 per month for your first month. Another great option is the streaming service’s genre packs. The MySports one typically costs $64.99 per month but is $20 off for your first two months, bringing its price down to $44.99/month right now.
- Fubo: All three traditional plans—Pro, Elite, and Premier—have ABC. Pro starts at $48.99 per month after the free trial (usually $73.99 per month). Also, check out Fubo’s sports packages to get ABC. Fubo Sports + News starts at $55.99 per month, but is currently on sale for $45.99/month for your first month.
- Sling TV: Sling Blue and Sling Orange + Blue both consist of ABC, with Sling Blue costing $45.99 per month. Just note that ABC is only available in select markets where local stations are owned by the network.
- Hulu + Live TV: The most basic Hulu + Live TV plan lets you watch ABC for $89.99 per month. The best part about this option is that it bundles Disney+ and ESPN, so you get to choose from an even bigger library. While this streamer costs more than the others per month, it technically gives you the best value.
ESPN
- DirecTV Stream: All four DirecTV plans—Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier—include ESPN. While the most basic option, Entertainment, goes for $89.99 per month, Choice is currently discounted to $59.99 per month for your first month. Another great option is the streaming service’s genre packs. The MySports one typically costs $64.99 per month but is $20 off for your first two months, bringing its price down to $44.99/month right now.
- Fubo: All three traditional plans—Pro, Elite, and Premier—have ABC. Pro starts at $48.99 per month after the free trial (usually $73.99 per month). Also, check out Fubo’s sports packages to get ESPN. Fubo Sports + News starts at $55.99 per month, but is currently on sale for $45.99/month for your first month.
- Sling TV: Sling Orange and Sling Orange + Blue both consist of ESPN, with Sling Orange costing $45.99 per month. Sling Essentials, a curated selection of channels, includes both ESPN and ESPN2 for $19.99 per month if you’re looking for a more affordable option.
- Hulu + Live TV: The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle lets you watch ESPN for $35.99 per month (Disney+ (With Ads), Hulu (With Ads), ESPN Unlimited (With Ads)). The best part about this option is that it bundles Disney+ and ESPN, so you get to choose from an even bigger library. While this streamer costs more than the others per month, it technically gives you the best value.
– Includes local networks and 90+ channels
– Includes local networks and 200+ channels
– Daily, weekend, and weekly passes
– 30+ channels
– Large library of shows, movies, and Hulu Originals
When Is the 2026 NFL Draft?
- Round 1: Thursday, April 23, 2026 @ 8 p.m. ET
- Rounds 2–3: Friday, April 24, 2026 @ 7 p.m. ET
- Rounds 4–7: Saturday, April 25, 2026 @ noon ET
2026 NFL Draft Order, Round 1
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New York Jets
- Arizona Cardinals
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Giants
- Cleveland Browns
- Washington Commanders
- New Orleans Saints
- Kansas City Chiefs
- New York Giants
The Bottom Line
DirecTV, Fubo, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV all offer many plans and packages that will have you watching the 2026 NFL Draft in no time. However, which one you choose to buy depends on your streaming preferences and patterns. For those who prioritize free trials, DirecTV and Fubo both have five-day free trials so that you can watch the 2026 NFL Draft without paying a dime. If you’re going off of price alone, the cheapest option on this list is Sling TV or Sling TV, since both cost just $19.99 per month. If you want access to a variety of streamers for one price (the best value), sign up for a Disney+, Hulu, ESPN bundle.
