(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Visit Pittsburgh)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The National Football League announced the headlining acts for the free NFL Draft Entertainment Series presented by Bud Light in Pittsburgh, featuring award-winning global superstar Kane Brown, Pittsburgh native and Grammy-nominated recording artist Wiz Khalifa and Pittsburgh-area native Bret Michaels. All three of them will perform as part of an unforgettable three-day celebration at the 2026 NFL Draft,which will be from April 23rd-25th. According to a release from VisitPittsburgh today, here is what you need to know about these performances:

• To kick off Day 1 on Thurs., April 23, Pittsburgh-raised and jazz-trained artist KELS will perform the National Anthem. KELS toured and sold-out hundreds of shows across the country independently before her 2025 breakout single “Gone” put her on the map. Preceding the National Anthem, the James Weldon Johnson Foundation’s National Hymn Choir, featuring The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh, will perform the hymn Lift Every Voice and Sing – conducted by Grammy Award-winning, Dr. Jeffery Redding.
• As part of the Day 2 festivities on Fri., April 24, Pittsburgh natives Wiz Khalifa and Bret Michaels will perform at 5:15 p.m. ET ahead of the Draft rounds 2 and 3 that evening. Multi-platinum, Grammy- and Golden Globe-nominated artist Wiz Khalifa broke through with his major-label debut Rolling Papers, led by chart-topping hits including “Black and Yellow,” “See You Again” and “No Sleep.”
• Bret Michaels, iconic frontman of Poison with a multi-platinum-selling career in music spanning decades, will headline alongside Wiz Khalifa on Day 2 of the Draft, said, “I cannot be more honored, excited and fired up to be asked to perform at the Pittsburgh 2026 Draft on Friday night. As a Pittsburgh native and a diehard fan of the Steelers, the NFL and all things Pittsburgh, this is a dream come true.”
• After the Draft selections conclude on Sat., April 25, global superstar Kane Brown will take the stage for a high-energy finale to the 2026 NFL Draft Entertainment Series presented by Bud Light. Following the success of his widely acclaimed 2025 record, The High Road, the multi-Platinum-selling, award-winning singer/songwriter just released “Woman”.
• This year’s artists join an elite lineup of performers who have helped bring the Draft to life through music over the years, including Tim McGraw, Eminem, Dierks Bentley, Weezer, Brad Paisley, Mötley Crüe, Ice Cube, Marshmello, Kings of Leon, Fall Out Boy, Black Pumas, Big Sean and more.
• All performances as part of the NFL Draft Entertainment Series presented by Bud Light will take place at the Draft Theater adjacent to Acrisure Stadium. General fan viewing of the performances is free, and fans are encouraged to arrive early, as standing room will be on a first-come first-served basis.
• In addition to the live performances, the NFL will host the NFL Draft Experience presented by American Express, the league’s ultimate fan football festival that’s free to fans of all ages who can run the 40-yard dash, take on football drills, meet NFL Legends, grab photos with the Lombardi Trophy and all 58 Super Bowl rings, and enjoy food & beverage concessions. Fans will also be able to take the field of Acrisure Stadium to kick a field goal, participate in clinics and activities, and watch the NFL Draft happen live onscreen. Draft Experience presented by American Express will be free and open to the public from April 23-25.
• Fans planning to attend the free 2026 NFL Draft Experience should download the NFL OnePass app. Available through NFL.com/DraftAccess by clicking here, NFL OnePass is the must-have tool for navigating Draft weekend and provides real-time updates, a full schedule of interactive activities, Know-Before-You-Go information, and access to exclusive digital content and prizes, including a grand prize trip for two to Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles.

• All times are local and may be subject to change.
• For fans not in Pittsburgh, the 2026 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light will be broadcast live on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes and will be available to stream on NFL+. Round 1 begins Thursday, April 23, followed by Rounds 2–3 on Friday, April 24 and Rounds 4–7 on Saturday, April 25.
• For more information on the 2025 NFL Draft, including programming, special events, and registration, fans should visit NFL.com/DraftAccess by clicking here.