Sept 18, 2025
DreamHack and ESL One, two of the world’s biggest events in gaming and esports, will be coming to Birmingham, UK, in March 2026. DreamHack Birmingham will be the first ever festival held on UK soil in its 20+ year history, bringing together all gaming communities to celebrate games, esports and internet pop culture. Featuring one of the most prestigious esports tournaments, ESL One, returns to the UK for its fourth iteration, with a $1M prize pool, showcasing 16 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams.
“Esports has exploded into one of the fastest-growing parts of our economy. Our arenas are buzzing with global fans and players for events like DreamHack and ESL One,” said Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands. “For us it’s much more than entertainment. Our colleges and universities are full of young talent learning the skills to succeed in this multi-billion-pound industry. And with world-class studios already here, and backing from gaming’s biggest names, we’re making the West Midlands the UK’s number one place to create, watch and play esports.”
“The UK has one of the world’s most passionate gaming communities, yet it’s still underserved when it comes to festivals that unite every part of gaming culture.” said Shahin Zarrabi, VP Festivals at ESL FACEIT Group. “That’s why we’re bringing DreamHack to Birmingham — a city with a proven track record and the perfect stage for our UK debut. We’re here for the long term: to invest, grow, and build something even bigger together with the community.”
“Returning to Birmingham with ESL One is a huge moment for us and the Dota 2 community,” said Álvaro Sánchez Velasco, Product Manager Dota 2 at ESL FACEIT Group. “This year is even more special as we join forces with DreamHack to create a truly unique festival atmosphere. We can’t wait to bring the best of Dota 2 esports to a city that has shown us so much passion over the years we’ve been here.”
The UK has rapidly established itself as one of Europe’s fastest-growing esports markets, with revenues set to hit $250.7 million in 2025 (Statista, 2025) and user numbers projected to reach nearly 24 million by 2029 (Statisa, 2025). Home to nearly 40 million gamers nationwide (Statista, 2024), esports is now both a cultural and economic force in the UK — and DreamHack festivals, which reach over 200,000 visitors globally and tens of millions online, are perfectly positioned to bring this vibrant community together on one stage.
NEC Group hosts DreamHack and ESL One Birmingham 2026
The NEC Birmingham and bp pulse LIVE offer two of the UK’s largest and most versatile event venues, operated by the NEC Group. Conveniently located just minutes from Birmingham Airport, the venues welcome seven million visitors each year to hundreds of live events and trade shows.
“We’re thrilled to welcome ESL One Birmingham back to the NEC and we’re equally excited to host DreamHack for the very first time,” said Ian Taylor, Managing Director of the NEC. “We’re perfectly located for bringing gaming communities together from across the globe, and we can’t wait to host one of the biggest gaming events in the calendar!”
Securing Birmingham as the host city for both DreamHack and ESL One is a huge milestone,” said Bobby Hare, Director Host City Partnerships at ESL FACEIT Group. “Over the past 12 months, the West Midlands Growth Company and the NEC Group have been incredibly supportive partners, and we’re excited to be back in Birmingham. The city’s vibrant gaming community and our shared vision for long-term growth make it the perfect home to deliver unforgettable experiences for UK fans.
- Dates: March 27 – 29, 2026
- Location: National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, UK
- DreamHack is the world’s leading gaming lifestyle festival bringing together all gaming communities to celebrate games and internet pop culture.
- Across three days, DreamHack Birmingham will invite fans to explore esports tournaments, cosplay, live music, creators, tabletop games, and so much more, all in one vibrant, community-driven space.
- The iconic festival comes to the UK following celebrated stints across the globe, including in Europe, North America and Asia.
- Dates: March 22 – 29, 2026.
- Location: bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, UK.
- ESL One is one of the biggest and renowned Dota 2 tournament series that brings together the best teams and players from around the world.
- 16 teams will compete in a round robin format, with 8-team double-elimination Playoffs.
- The final three days of the competition will take place in front of a live audience.
- Last year’s ESL One Birmingham saw a peak viewership of over 327,000. Over 18,000 fans from across the world attended the bp pulse LIVE on the final three days of the tournament, witnessing Team Falcons taking home the trophy.
For additional information, please check out the DreamHack and ESL One Birmingham Press Kit.
Tickets can be purchased starting September 23 at 15:00 BST on dreamhack.com/birmingham and esl-one.com/birmingham.
DreamHack 3-day tickets start at £39.00 during the first two weeks and will be priced from £59.00 thereafter. ESL One guaranteed seating starts at £89.00 for all three days, with add-ons also available.
All DreamHack ticket holders receive full access to all parts of the DreamHack festival experience, including ESL One, though entry to bp pulse LIVE is limited by capacity. Purchasing an ESL One ticket guarantees your seat in the bp pulse LIVE and also grants you full access to DreamHack.
