The 2026 NHL Draft is at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY, on June 26-27. Niagara Falls is 25 minutes north. That makes draft weekend one of the best chances to pair a major hockey event with a trip to the falls, and thousands of fans, families, and scouts will be doing exactly that. Here is everything you need to plan both.
Buffalo has hosted the NHL Draft three times before: 1991, 1998, and 2016. This fourth round makes it the first arena to host under the league’s decentralized draft format. With an estimated 2,200 hotel rooms booked and a projected $2.6 million economic impact on Erie County, the city will be busy. Getting your itinerary locked down early matters.
2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo: Dates and Details
Round 1 takes place Friday, June 26, at KeyBank Center. According to the official NHL Draft page, this is the marquee session where the top prospects hear their names called. Coverage airs on ESPN and ESPN+ in the U.S., with Sportsnet and TVA Sports carrying it in Canada. The atmosphere inside the arena is electric during first-round picks, and Buffalo fans have a reputation for showing up loud.
Rounds 2 through 7 happen Saturday, June 27. These later rounds air on NHL Network and ESPN+, with Sportsnet handling Canadian broadcasts. Saturday’s pace is faster, the crowd is smaller, and the vibe is more relaxed. If you only have one day, Friday night is the session to attend.
Roughly 100 draft prospects and their families descend on the host city each year, alongside NHL front office staff, agents, media, and fans. Buffalo’s Canalside district, where KeyBank Center sits, becomes the unofficial headquarters for the weekend. Bars, restaurants, and the waterfront boardwalk fill up fast.
This is the fourth time Buffalo has hosted the draft and the first under the NHL’s current decentralized format, where teams can operate from their home arenas or the host city. That distinction puts KeyBank Center in a unique spot in draft history.
KeyBank Center and Where to Stay
KeyBank Center sits in the Canalside district of downtown Buffalo, right on the waterfront. The arena holds about 19,070 for hockey events, and the surrounding area has been redeveloped heavily over the past decade. You can walk from the arena to dozens of restaurants, the waterfront trails, and the Naval and Military Park within minutes.
For hotels, proximity to the arena is the top priority if you want to avoid driving on draft night.
Buffalo Marriott at LECOM HarborCenter is the closest option at 0.1 miles from KeyBank Center. It is literally attached to the HarborCenter complex next door. This is where many NHL personnel stay during Buffalo events, so expect it to book early.
Courtyard by Marriott Buffalo Downtown/Canalside sits 0.2 miles away. Another walkable option with solid rates if you book months ahead.
Erie County has over 10,000 hotel rooms spread across downtown Buffalo, the Niagara Falls corridor, and suburban areas along I-190. If downtown hotels sell out or prices spike (expect that for draft weekend), staying in Niagara Falls puts you 25 minutes south of the arena and closer to the falls for daytime sightseeing.
Budget-conscious visitors should look at hotels in Grand Island, which sits between Buffalo and Niagara Falls on I-190. Rates tend to run 30-40% lower than downtown Buffalo, and the drive to KeyBank Center is about 15 minutes.
How to Get from Buffalo to Niagara Falls
The drive from downtown Buffalo to Niagara Falls takes about 25 minutes via I-190 North. It is a straight shot along the Niagara River with no tricky interchanges. During summer weekends, you might add 10 minutes for traffic near the falls, but nothing like what you would deal with in a major metro area.
By car: Take I-190 North from downtown Buffalo. Exit at the Robert Moses Parkway / Niagara Scenic Parkway and follow signs to Niagara Falls State Park. Parking at the state park costs $20 per vehicle in summer 2026 (based on recent years).
By rideshare: An Uber or Lyft from KeyBank Center to Niagara Falls State Park runs roughly $25-35 one way, depending on demand. Draft weekend could push surge pricing, so check rates before you commit.
By guided tour: This is the option we recommend. Over The Falls Tours picks up visitors and handles all the logistics, so you spend your time at the falls instead of figuring out parking, walkways, and which viewpoints are worth the hike. You get back to Buffalo with time to spare before the evening draft session.
There is no direct public transit between downtown Buffalo and the falls. NFTA buses run the route, but with transfers and schedules, it can take over an hour each way. Not ideal when you are working around a draft schedule.
Why Add Niagara Falls to Your Draft Trip
You are already flying into Buffalo. The falls are 25 minutes away. Skipping them would be like going to Chicago and not eating deep dish.
Most draft events happen in the evening. Round 1 on Friday typically starts around 7 PM ET. That gives you the entire morning and afternoon for Niagara Falls. A guided tour runs 4-5 hours, which means you can leave at 8 AM, be back in Buffalo by 1 or 2 PM, grab lunch at Canalside, and still have hours before the arena opens.
If you are bringing family (many draft attendees do, especially families of prospects), Niagara Falls fills the daytime hours when there is no hockey content to consume. Kids, partners, parents, they all get a full experience while the hockey fan in the group checks off a bucket-list destination.
Late June is also prime season at the falls. Water flow peaks in summer, the Maid of the Mist is running, Cave of the Winds is open, and temperatures sit in the mid-70s. You could not pick a better month.
For those visiting from out of state or out of country, this might be your one shot at Niagara Falls. Draft trips rarely repeat to the same city. Buffalo hosted in 2016 and the next visit is 2026. That is a 10-year gap. Take the day trip.
Best Over The Falls Tours for Draft Weekend Visitors
We run tours every day during summer, and our schedule works well for visitors who need to be back in Buffalo by late afternoon. Here are the three best options for draft weekend.
All-American Tour
This covers the U.S. side of Niagara Falls in about 4-5 hours. You will see Niagara Falls State Park, Prospect Point (the closest viewpoint to the brink of the falls), the Observation Tower, and the gorge trail. Depending on the day, the tour may include Cave of the Winds, where you stand on a wooden deck feet away from Bridal Veil Falls.
No passport needed. That is a big deal for draft visitors who may not have planned for a border crossing. See the All-American Tour details and schedule.
Niagara Falls Day Tour (US + Canadian Side)
This is the full experience. You cross into Canada and see Horseshoe Falls from the Canadian side, which many visitors say is the more dramatic view. The tour also includes Table Rock, the Journey Behind the Falls experience, and Clifton Hill. Then you come back to the U.S. side for the American viewpoints.
You need a valid passport or passport card for this one. Plan for 6-7 hours total. If you are attending Saturday’s rounds (which run during the day), this tour fits better on Friday morning before the evening Round 1 session. Full details on the Niagara Falls Day Tour.
Private Tours
For draft prospect families, NHL staff, or groups who want a flexible schedule, private tours let you set the pickup time, duration, and itinerary. Want to start at 7 AM and be back in Buffalo by noon? Done. Want to focus on photography spots? We will build it around that.
Private tours also work well for larger groups. If your fantasy league or hockey crew is making a weekend of it, a private tour keeps everyone together and on schedule.
Check our full tour lineup for other options and availability.
Things to Do in Buffalo Before the Draft
Buffalo has put serious money into its waterfront and food scene over the past decade. Here is how to fill the hours between your Niagara Falls tour and the draft.
Canalside District
This is the neighborhood around KeyBank Center. In summer, Canalside has kayaking, paddleboarding, waterfront concerts, and a beer garden. You can walk the boardwalk along the Buffalo River and check out the grain elevators that defined the city’s industrial era. It is a 2-minute walk from the arena.
Anchor Bar
Buffalo wings were invented here in 1964. The original Anchor Bar location on Main Street is about a 10-minute drive from Canalside. Yes, there will be a line during draft weekend. Yes, it is worth it if you have never been. Get the medium sauce.
Elmwood Village
This walkable neighborhood north of downtown has independent shops, coffee roasters, and restaurants. It is a good spot to kill an afternoon if you want something quieter than the draft buzz downtown.
Buffalo Waterfront and Naval Park
The Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park sits right next to KeyBank Center. You can tour a destroyer, submarine, and cruiser. It takes about 90 minutes and is surprisingly engaging even if military history is not your main interest.
Eat Like a Local
Beyond wings, Buffalo is known for beef on weck (roast beef on a kimmelweck roll with horseradish), sponge candy (a chocolate-covered honeycomb toffee), and a pizza style that uses a thick, airy crust with cup-and-char pepperoni. Charlie the Butcher for beef on weck. Fowler’s for sponge candy. Jay’s Artisan Pizzeria for the pizza.
Sample Draft Weekend Itinerary
Friday, June 26
- 7:30 AM – Depart Buffalo for Niagara Falls tour (25-min drive)
- 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM – All-American Tour of Niagara Falls
- 1:00 PM – Lunch in Buffalo (Anchor Bar, Pearl Street Grill, or Canalside spots)
- 2:00 – 5:00 PM – Explore Canalside, Naval Park, or Elmwood Village
- 5:30 PM – Head to KeyBank Center area, grab a pre-draft drink
- 7:00 PM – NHL Draft Round 1 begins
Saturday, June 27
- Morning – Sleep in or revisit any spots you missed Friday
- 11:00 AM – Rounds 2-7 begin (if attending)
- Afternoon – Draft wraps up; head to Niagara Falls for an evening visit if you skipped Friday’s tour
Two-Night Option
If you arrive Thursday evening and leave Sunday morning, you have time for a full Niagara Falls Day Tour (including the Canadian side) on Thursday or Sunday, plus both draft sessions. This is the setup we recommend for anyone flying in from outside the Northeast.
Planning Tips for Draft Weekend
Book hotels early. The 2016 draft in Buffalo sold out nearby hotels weeks in advance. With an estimated 2,200 rooms needed for draft-related bookings alone, availability will tighten fast. Erie County has over 10,000 total rooms, but the walkable downtown options go first.
Check passport status. If you want to see the Canadian side of the falls, your passport needs to be valid through your travel dates. Passport processing times have fluctuated between 6-13 weeks in recent years, so apply well before June. Not sure about requirements? We wrote a full breakdown of Niagara Falls passport rules.
Expect summer pricing. Late June is peak season for Niagara Falls tourism and hotel rates in the Buffalo-Niagara region. Add draft demand on top of that, and you are looking at higher-than-normal rates for everything from hotels to rental cars.
Rent a car if driving to the falls. Rideshare works, but a rental car gives you flexibility to move between Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and any other stops on your own schedule. Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) has all the major rental agencies.
Layer your clothes. Late June in western New York usually means highs in the mid-70s, but mornings near the falls can be cool and misty. The Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds provide ponchos, but a light jacket is smart.
For more trip planning details, check our complete Niagara Falls travel guide and best time to visit Niagara Falls.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 NHL Draft?
June 26-27, 2026, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. Round 1 is Friday evening. Rounds 2-7 are Saturday.
How far is Niagara Falls from Buffalo?
About 25 minutes by car via I-190 North. The distance is roughly 20 miles.
Can I visit Niagara Falls and attend the NHL Draft on the same day?
Yes. A morning tour of the falls gets you back to Buffalo by early afternoon, well before the evening draft sessions. Our All-American Tour is built for exactly this kind of schedule.
Do I need a passport to visit Niagara Falls during draft weekend?
Only if you cross to the Canadian side. The U.S. side of Niagara Falls is in New York State, no passport required. For more details, read our passport requirements guide.
Where should I stay for the 2026 NHL Draft?
The Buffalo Marriott at LECOM HarborCenter is 0.1 miles from KeyBank Center. The Courtyard Marriott downtown is 0.2 miles. Both are walkable to the arena. Erie County has over 10,000 hotel rooms total if those sell out.
What TV channels will broadcast the 2026 NHL Draft?
Round 1 airs on ESPN and ESPN+ in the U.S., Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada. Rounds 2-7 air on NHL Network and ESPN+, plus Sportsnet.
What Over The Falls tours work best for NHL Draft visitors?
The All-American Tour (4-5 hours, no passport needed) fits perfectly before a Friday evening draft session. The Niagara Falls Day Tour adds the Canadian side for a fuller experience. Private tours offer flexible timing for groups or families.
Have more questions? Check our FAQ page or learn more about Over The Falls Tours.
Planning a 2026 sports trip to the region? If you are also catching FIFA World Cup matches, our World Cup transportation guide covers New York City to MetLife Stadium plus a Niagara Falls add-on.