DREAMHACK and ESL One – two of the world’s biggest events in gaming and esports, will be coming to the NEC next year.
DreamHack Birmingham will be the first ever festival held on UK soil in its 20-plus year history, bringing together all gaming communities to celebrate games, esports and internet pop culture.
Organisers say it will feature 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.
Councillor Karen Grinsell, leader of Solihull Council said: “I’m delighted that we are welcoming yet another huge Esports event to the NEC in Solihull, building on our reputation as the UK’s top Esports destination.
“We’ve shown time and time again that we can leverage our prime location, excellent facilities and the growing digital and creative sector here to make these events a real success, while also bringing huge economic benefits to our hospitality and visitor economy.”
West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker, said: “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.
“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.”
DreamHack Birmingham will be at the NEC from March 27 to 29.
It is said to be the world’s leading gaming lifestyle festival and is said to bring gaming communities together 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 festival comes to the UK following celebrated stints across the globe, including in Europe, North America and Asia.
ESL will run from March 22 to 29 at bp pulse LIVE.
It will see 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.
Álvaro Sánchez Velasco, product manager Dota 2 at ESL FACEIT Group, said: “Returning to Birmingham with ESL One is a huge moment for us and the Dota 2 community.
“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.”
Shahin Zarrabi, VP Festivals at ESL FACEIT Group, said: “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.
“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.”
