DreamHack and ESL One make their way to Birmingham in 2026
Summary
DreamHack and ESL One will join forces for a major festival in Birmingham in March 2026 — DreamHack Birmingham — marking DreamHack’s first-ever UK event. ESL One Birmingham returns as a premier Dota 2 tournament with a $1M prize pool and 16 teams. The NEC Group will host the events across the NEC and bp pulse LIVE venues, with DreamHack running 27–29 March and ESL One spanning 22–29 March. Tickets go on sale 23 September 2025, with early DreamHack three-day passes from £39 and ESL One guaranteed seating starting at £89.
Key Points
- DreamHack Birmingham is DreamHack’s first UK festival in its 20+ year history, running 27–29 March 2026 at the NEC.
- ESL One Birmingham (22–29 March 2026) returns as a top-tier Dota 2 event: 16 teams, $1,000,000 prize pool, round-robin group stage and 8-team double-elimination playoffs.
- NEC Group will host both events across NEC Birmingham and bp pulse LIVE, convenient to Birmingham Airport and major transport links.
- Tickets: DreamHack 3-day early price from £39 (then £59); ESL One guaranteed seating from £89. DreamHack tickets include festival access, while ESL One tickets guarantee bp pulse LIVE seating plus DreamHack access.
- UK esports market is growing rapidly — projected revenues and user growth make Birmingham a strategic location for long-term investment by organisers.
Context and relevance
This is a notable milestone for the UK esports and gaming scene: DreamHack’s UK debut combined with ESL One’s high-profile Dota 2 tournament concentrates festival culture and elite esports in one week-long run. For local industry, education providers and studios in the West Midlands, it strengthens the region’s position as a hub for gaming production, events and talent development. For fans, creators and pro teams, it’s a rare chance to attend both a large-scale gaming festival and a major international esports final on home soil.
Why should I read this?
If you like games, live tournaments, cosplay or seeing top Dota teams in person — this is big. Think festival vibes plus top-tier esports in one spot. Tickets are limited for the arena finals, and early prices are actually decent, so if you want to go, now’s the time to plan rather than miss out.
Source
Source: https://gamingtrend.com/news/dreamhack-and-esl-one-make-their-way-to-birmingham-in-2026/