The NFL Combine will remain in Indianapolis in 2026, the NFL announced Thursday, continuing a partnership that's worked exceedingly well for both the league and city for nearly four decades.
The NFL in January announced the 2025 NFL Combine will also be held in Indianapolis, where every NFL Combine has been held since 1987.
"Indianapolis and the NFL Combine have a proud history together, so we're thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with Visit Indy, the Indianapolis Colts, and the local community for this 2026 event," Peter O'Reilly, executive vice president, club business, international, and league events at the NFL, said. "Our partners in Indy have successfully hosted the football evaluation process for decades, and recently, we've collectively worked to grow and evolve the in-person fan experience, bringing tens of thousands of fans closer to the league's future stars."
The NFL in 2021 began accepting bids from other cities to host its annual scouting combine. Indianapolis – owing to its ideal setup to maximize efficiency in the massive, week-long undertaking – has fended off those bids, with the NFL first awarding the 2023 and 2024 NFL Combines to Indianapolis back in the spring of 2022. The NFL announced Indianapolis as the host of the 2025 and 2026 NFL Combines this year.
"Indianapolis is uniquely designed and built to host an event as complex as the NFL Combine," Colts Chief Operating Officer Pete Ward said. "Efficiently moving prospects, team owners, coaching staff, medical personnel, and national media is seamlessly done in Indy, and the Colts are proud to be part of the team keeping the event in our city."
The ease of the scouting process, where prospects, coaches and staffers can quickly move – without going outside – between hotels, the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium is ideal; the proximity to medical facilities and the ability to quickly transfer data from those facilities to teams is a key advantage Indianapolis provides.
Indianapolis has also invested heavily in growing fan interest in the NFL Combine over the year, and this past year's NFL Combine attracted more than 27,200 fans to Lucas Oil Stadium for the free, family-friendly NFL Combine Experience as well as "Inside Look," which brings fans inside the stadium and closer to the scouting process than ever before.
"We appreciate the NFL's continued commitment and interest in Indy and the Colts ongoing partnership," Chris Gahl, executive vice president & chief marketing officer for Visit Indy, said. "We know Indy is always on audition, striving to keep the event in our city. We are constantly looking to improve and grow the Combine to enhance the fan-facing experience for visitors and fans."
The 2025 NFL Combine will run from Thursday, Feb. 27 through Sunday, March 2, and will again feature the NFL Combine Experience in the South Lot of Lucas Oil Stadium as well as Inside Look inside the stadium.
