Venue & Registration
DreamHack Birmingham 2026 will be held at National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT, United Kingdom, located next to Birmingham Airport with excellent transport links.
Festival Map
NEC Google Maps
Festival & Badge Pickup Hours
Check below for the festival opening hours and badge pickup times. When picking up your badge, please have your ticket QR code from Tixr ready to scan. This can be on your phone or printed. CDL attendees should also have their ID and/or waivers ready.
Friday: 12:00 – 21:00
Saturday: 10:00 – 21:00
Sunday: 10:00 – 20:00
Thursday Early Pickup: 16:00 – 20:00
(Hall 2 Entrance)
Friday: 08:00 – 21:00Saturday: 08:00 – 21:00
Sunday: 08:00 – 19:00
- Festival Opening Hours
- Friday: 12:00 – 21:00
- Saturday: 10:00 – 21:00
- Sunday: 10:00 – 20:00
- Early Ticket Pickup
- (Hall 2 Entrance)
- Thursday 16:00 - 20:00
- Registration Hours
- (Hall 4)
- Friday: 09:00 - 21:00
- Saturday: 08:00 - 21:00
- Sunday: 08:00 - 19:00
Good to know
Travel
We can’t wait to welcome you to visit DreamHack Birmingham 2026. Here you will find the information you need for your arrival at the festival and other useful tips to make your experience the best it can be.
Driving to the Nec
The NEC is clearly signposted from all major motorways, including the M42, M40, and M6. Use postcode B40 1NT to reach the NEC site. Once on site, follow event signage rather than your sat nav to access the correct car park.
Parking is available at the NEC, with free shuttle buses and signposted walking routes connecting car parks to the venue.
For live traffic updates and journey planning, check National Highways before travelling.
Parking
Parking is available on site at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and is managed using ANPR (automatic number plate recognition).
Pre-booking parking in advance is recommended for the best rates, with savings available when booked before arrival. If you don’t pre-book, parking can still be paid for on site by card or smartphone (the NEC is a cashless venue).
A range of parking options are available, including standard parking, express parking closer to the venue, accessible parking, motorcycle parking, and parking for minibuses and coaches. EV charging is also available on site, with both pre-bookable and first-come, first-served options.
For full details, pricing, and to book parking in advance, visit the NEC’s official parking page.
By Plane - (International & Domestic)
Birmingham Airport (BHX) is Birmingham’s only airport, located around 10 km from the city centre. It offers domestic and international routes and is connected by train, road, and bus, with a journey time of around 10 minutes by train.
From the airport to the NEC
Take the free air-rail link to Birmingham International Railway Station, located at the terminal. Trains run every few minutes and take around 90 seconds, with direct access to the NEC.
Taxis can drop off at the Piazza drop-off and pick-up area or the Atrium entrance.
Rideshare services are available from Birmingham Airport, with designated pick-up points and direct drop-off at the NEC.
By Rail
Birmingham is one of the UK’s main rail hubs, with direct services from cities across the country. Birmingham New Street is the primary city-centre station, offering frequent connections from London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, and beyond.
For direct access to DreamHack, travel to Birmingham International Railway Station, which is located next to Birmingham Airport and the NEC. Direct services run throughout the day. If you’re travelling from further afield, you may need to change at Birmingham New Street, with onward connections taking under 15 minutes.
Rail services are operated by multiple providers, including Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Railway, and London Northwestern Railway. For routes, timetables, and tickets, visit National Rail.
By Bus
The NEC is well served by local bus services from across the West Midlands, making it an easy option for visitors travelling from nearby towns and cities. Bus routes run regularly throughout the day, with stops located close to the venue.
National coach services also operate direct routes to Birmingham and the NEC from locations across the UK. Journey planning, routes, and timetables are available through Network West Midlands, with long-distance services operated by National Express and Megabus.
Esports
DreamHack Birmingham showcases a series of premier esports tournaments, with a total prize pool exceeding £1 million across all competitions.
COD:WRS - Hall 3 + 3A
Call of Duty Esports is making a splash at DreamHack Birmingham! Alongside CDL Major II, the new Call of Duty®: Warzone Resurgence Series circuit kicks off with the COD:WRS Birmingham Finals!
CDL Major II - Hall 3 + 3A
Call of Duty Esports is making a splash at DreamHack Birmingham! Alongside Call of Duty ®: Warzone Resurgence Series, Call of Duty League Major II is also a part of the festival.
DreamHack Open ft. Halo - Hall 2
Along with the Halo Infinite 4v4 main event onsite, expect multiple Open tournaments featuring Pros and Amateurs alike at DreamHack Birmingham along with pre-event online activity! With $100,000 in prizing for all events, who will take the biggest share?
ESL One Birmingham - bp pulse LIVE
ESL One’s flagship event returns to Birmingham and its incredible crowd in 2026. 16 of the world’s best teams will battle their way to the City of a Thousand Trades, where they will compete for the title of ESL One Champions.
Road to EWC - Hall 2
The Road to EWC brings decisive qualifiers in Trackmania, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and Street Fighter 6 shaping the lineup for the Esports World Cup 2026.
Featured guests include voice acting talent such as Carolina Ravassa, Jason Spisak, Mela Lee, alongside Justine Huxley and Tommy Gofton. Fans can also enjoy a special music performance from Dubtendo Allstars.
Members of the popular YouTube group Sidemen including Miniminter, TBJZL, and Zerkaa will also appear for special activities and interactive sessions.
DreamHack is a place where creators, fans and partners come together in one place! Watch and interact with your favorite creators, be part of unique content experiences and connect with the community.
Back again with a bang, DreamHack Quest is an interactive way to experience the festival — turning your DreamHack weekend into a live, playable adventure. Whether you’re here to explore everything or to climb the leaderboard, Quest adds a whole new layer to the DreamHack experience.
At DreamHack, we love to celebrate all parts of gaming. Part of that is discovering new amazing games and celebrating the creative work that pushes the industry forward. Check out our Indie Playground and get ready to have fun!
