One of the world’s largest LAN parties and PC gaming festivals has returned to the UK. Dreamhack, started over three decades ago in a Swedish basement, is now a global esports extravaganza and kicks off at the Birmingham NEC from March 27 to March 29, 2026.
Promising a fun-filled weekend for gaming enthusiasts, Dreamhack features a broad array of activities, including live entertainment, sim racing, epic cosplay and, of course, a huge Freeplay area packed with PCs and consoles ready for you to game. There’s even an arcade area crammed with old-school machines to give us oldies an opportunity to relive the games of our youth.
Dreamhack has previously descended upon the likes of Stockholm, Bucharest, Valencia and Montreal, and the Birmingham event is shaping up to be just as big. Tens of thousands of attendees are expected to pour through the doors, and I believe those estimates having seen the queues at today’s 12:00 opening.
Social media influencers and content creators are out in force, but don’t let that put you off; Dreamhack remains a gaming event first and foremost.
Teams will be competing for a $100,000 prize pool across Call of Duty: Warzone Resurgence Series (COD:WRS), Data 2 and Halo. Dreamhack will also host qualifiers for the Esports World Cup 2026, with gamers vying for a spot in Trackmania, Street Fighter 6 and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.
The sprawling showground also serves as an opportunity to get your hands on all manner of cutting-edge PC hardware. Top brands, including iiyama, MSI and PCSpecialist, are all exhibiting and more than happy to chat to gamers contemplating an upgrade.
What’s more, there are some great offers available from several of these firms, which are only available if you turn up on-site at Dreamhack. As an example, iiyama is offering up a 144Hz G-Master 2560×1440 gaming monitor, complete with Nvidia G-Sync support, for just £124.99, saving you £35 on the MSRP. There’s also a dual-mode gaming screen that runs at 4K/144Hz or 1080p/288Hz, and costs £194.99 at the event, saving you £45.
Starting at 12:00 on Friday, March 27, Dreamhack runs for the entire weekend. Tickets are available for either one or three days, with discounts for families and groups. It’s a sight to see, and if Friday’s spectacle is anything to go by, the UK gaming scene is alive and well.
Want to start the Easter holiday with a full-on gaming fix? Head over to the official Dreamhack website for full ticketing info.
