DreamLeague Season 28

DreamLeague Season 28 is the 28th edition of the long-running DreamLeague tournament series. It’s part of the ESL Pro Tour (EPT) for Dota 2, serving as a key Tier-1 event within ESL’s global competitive circuit. DreamLeague Season 28 is held online, with operations based out of Stockholm, and it takes place from February 16, 2026, to March 1, 2026.
Subject Dota 2
Start Date February 16, 2026
End Date March 1, 2026
Status Coming Soon
Location Europe West server
Prize Pool $1,000,000 USD
Participants 16 men’s teams
Type Online
Tournament Champion
Format Hybrid (groups + bracket play)
Organizer ESL

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It’s one of the most important non-Major events on the Dota 2 calendar. It features the world’s top teams, offers a large prize pool, and—crucially—awards ESL Pro Tour (EPT) points, which directly impact qualification and seeding for later elite ESL and Valve-aligned events. Strong performances here can define a team’s competitive trajectory for the season.

DreamLeague Season 28 is organized by ESL (ESL Gaming GmbH), one of the most established and influential eSports tournament operators globally.

Venue, Competitors’ Structure, and Prize Pool Overview for the DreamLeague Season 28

As mentioned, DreamLeague Season 28 is entirely online (no physical LAN venue), and will be played on the Europe West server.

A total of 16 teams will participate in the main event. The total prize pool is $1,000,000 USD, with $750,000 allocated to prize money and $250,000+ reserved for club rewards. Total EPT Points for the event are 23,090, distributed across placements and match wins, with additional points awarded for each series win in group play and for final placement. Here’s the prize breakdown, including Club Reward and EPT Points (before any additional stage bonus points from individual wins) distribution:

  • 1st — Prize Money: $250,000 | Club Reward: $40,000 | EPT Points: ~3,000 (+ stage points)
  • 2nd — Prize Money: $100,000 | Club Reward: $30,000 | EPT Points: ~2,500 (+ stage points)
  • 3rd — Prize Money: $80,000 | Club Reward: $25,000 | EPT Points: ~2,000 (+ stage points)
  • 4th — Prize Money: $60,000 | Club Reward: $20,000 | EPT Points: ~1,600 (+ stage points)
  • 5th — Prize Money: $45,000 | Club Reward: $15,000 | EPT Points: ~1,200 (+ stage points)
  • 6th — Prize Money: $35,000 | Club Reward: $15,000 | EPT Points: ~1,200 (+ stage points)
  • 7th — Prize Money: $30,000 | Club Reward: $12,500 | EPT Points: ~900 (+ stage points)
  • 8th — Prize Money: $25,000 | Club Reward: $12,500 | EPT Points: ~900 (+ stage points)
  • 9–10th — Prize Money: $20,000 | Club Reward: $10,000 | EPT Points: ~600
  • 11–12th — Prize Money: $17,500 | Club Reward: $10,000 | EPT Points: ~600
  • 13–14th — Prize Money: $15,000 | Club Reward: $10,000 | EPT Points: ~600
  • 15–16th — Prize Money: $10,000 | Club Reward: $10,000 | EPT Points: ~600

Participating Teams in the DreamLeague Season 28 and Qualification Overview

There are six confirmed teams for DreamLeague Season 28. These teams received direct invites from the organizer based on their performance and rankings in the ESL Pro Tour Season 2025/2026 leaderboard and other relevant results:
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  • Tundra Esports
  • Xtreme Gaming
  • PARIVISION
  • OG
  • Team Spirit
  • Team Yandex

These six teams are automatically qualified for the main tournament without having to participate in regional qualifiers, meaning 10 additional slots are still to be filled through the following qualification paths:

  • Regional Closed Qualifiers — winners (or top finishers) from these closed qualifiers will qualify for the main event.
    • Western Europe
    • Eastern Europe
    • Southeast Asia
    • North America
    • South America
    • China (through ESL Challenger China)
  • DreamLeague Division 2 Season 3 the champion of D2 S3 earns a spot in DreamLeague Season 28.
  • Additional qualifier slots — depending on results, there may be extra spots awarded through open and closed qualifying bracket placements (e.g., runner-ups or specific performance tiers), but the full list of all qualified teams hasn’t been published yet.

Structure and Match Format of the DreamLeague Season 28

The main event, following the qualification phase, has three distinct phases:

  1. Group stage 1
  2. Group stage 2
  3. Playoffs

The exact day breakdown for either of the group stages isn’t officially listed yet, but all take place between Feb 16 and Mar 1.

Match format & elimination system:

  • Group stage 1: All 16 teams are divided into two groups of eight for round-robin play. All series consist of two games, after which the top four teams from each group advance to group stage 2, while the remaining teams are eliminated.
  • Group stage 2: One single round-robin group of eight teams is formed. All matches are bo3, and the top two teams advance to the upper bracket of the playoffs, while the third- and fourth-place teams advance to the lower bracket. The remaining teams are eliminated.
  • Playoffs. The bracket uses a double-elimination format, with all matches best-of-3 (bo3), except for the grand final, which will be best-of-5 (bo5), the standard for DreamLeague events.

The DreamLeague Season 28 Favorites, Betting Options, and Where to Watch

While official odds haven’t been released yet, based on competitive strength and recent performance of invited teams, the top favorites entering DreamLeague Season 28 likely include the teams whose names are on the line-up right now.

Note: Exact favorite rankings or match-by-match odds will be available only after official betting markets open (usually ~1–2 weeks before Feb 16 start).

You can bet on DreamLeague S28 through major eSports-friendly sportsbooks, among which sites for betting with cryptocurrency stand as reliable, once markets go live (usually around mid-February). Some popular options include:

  • Bet365 – Offers competitive outright and match markets (availability depends on your region).
  • 1xBet – Extensive eSports market coverage, including Dota 2.
  • Betway – Known for strong eSports odds and promotions.
  • Casumo – Offers bonuses and live betting options.

Betting markets typically available:

  • Outright winner – Who wins the whole event
  • Match winner – Best-of series results
  • Map handicap/totals – If offered by the site
  • Live/in-play bets – During matches (if supported)

The official broadcast platforms for DreamLeague Season 28 are:

  • Twitch (primary live): ESL_DOTA2 – Main live broadcast with commentary and a full schedule of matches.
  • YouTube (replays & highlights): ESL Dota 2 YouTube channel — Post-match VODs and daily highlights.

Pros and Cons of the DreamLeague Season 28 Favorites

TEAMTundra EsportsTeam SpiritOGXtreme Gaming
PROS
  • Extremely disciplined macro play and objective control
  • Deep drafting pool allowing flexible meta adaptation
  • High consistency across long-format tournaments
  • Extensive experience in ESL Pro Tour formats
  • Elite individual skill ceiling across all roles
  • Proven clutch performance in high-pressure playoffs
  • Excellent late-game decision-making and teamfighting
  • Strong adaptability in best-of series
  • Unpredictable drafting that punishes rigid opponents
  • High-tempo, aggressive laning phases
  • Historically strong results at ESL-organized events
  • Capable of upsetting any favorite on a good day
  • Outstanding mechanical skill and lane dominance
  • Very strong in skirmish-heavy metas
  • High snowball potential when playing from ahead
  • Threatening matchup for slower, macro-focused teams
CONS
  • Can struggle against ultra-aggressive early-game teams
  • Slower tempo may drop maps in bo3 group stages
  • Limited comeback explosiveness if drafts fall behind
  • Occasional inconsistency in group-stage matches
  • Tendency to over-experiment with drafts early on
  • Momentum-based performances—slow starts are costly
  • Highly volatile form between series
  • Risky drafts can backfire in bo3 formats
  • Lower margin for error versus structured macro teams
  • Can struggle versus highly disciplined macro play
  • Drafting depth may be limited over long tournaments
  • International consistency less proven than top EU teams
Which factor will matter most at DreamLeague Season 28?
MILOS VASILJEVIC
He’s the mastermind behind our captivating content, leveraging his extensive journalism experience to craft compelling sports news and insightful betting predictions. His passion for the game and knack for storytelling ensure our readers are always engaged and informed, bringing a unique and expert perspective to every piece he writes.
Publication date : 06.01.2026
Last modified date: 06.01.2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DreamLeague Season 28 a Major or a Major-equivalent event?
Do all matches take place online, or is there a LAN stage?
Why is DreamLeague considered so important despite being online?