INDIANAPOLIS – The NFL Scouting Combine will return to Indianapolis for another year…again.
The National Football League will keep the event, which has called the Circle City home since 1987, in Indy through 2026.
“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,” said Peter O’Reilly, executive vice president, club business, international, and league events at the NFL in a news release. “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.”
Sources told the Indianapolis Business Journal that the league will “explore options” for 2027 and later.
The multi-day event brings top NFL executives and coaches to Indianapolis to evaluate prospects for April’s draft. It includes medical evaluations, interviews and various drills to assess a player’s physical traits.
The league has looked at moving the combine to other locations, such as Dallas or Los Angeles, as it aims to make it a fan-oriented event like the NFL Draft. But despite receiving bids from other cities, the NFL keeps returning to Indianapolis.
In January, the league announced it would keep the combine in Indy in 2025. It previously inked an extension in 2022 to hold the combine in the Circle City in 2023 and 2024.
“We appreciate the NFL’s continued commitment and interest in Indy and the Colts ongoing partnership,” said Chris Gahl, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Visit Indy. “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 (Feb. 27 through March 3) and 2026 (Feb. 26 to March 1) events will be held at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium.
The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine drew more than 27,000 fans—a record for the event, which has evolved to include several fan events and now allows spectators in the stands to watch some of the on-field workouts.
According to Visit Indy, the combine generated a $9.26 million economic impact in 2024, also a record.