TL;DR
- DreamLeague Season 28 is the second Tier 1 Dota 2 esports event of the year.
- The tournament is online-only, taking place in Europe with 16 teams competing.
- There are three stages, two of which are group phases that lead to the play-offs.
- There is a total prize pool of $1 million, $750,000 going to the players and $250,000 being a club share.
- You can watch the event on the official ESL YouTube and Twitch streams.
The Dota 2 esports season is officially underway, with its first Tier 1 event, the BLAST Slam VI, currently underway, and its second tournament coming straight after. DreamLeague has been a constant in the Dota 2 esports scene since its kick-off season event all the way back in 2013, and over 12 years later, we have arrived at Season 28.
As a Tier 1 staple, DreamLeague Season 28 is a massive draw, having one of the biggest prize pools in Dota 2, and bringing the best teams in the world to the tournament. The DreamLeague events come fast and thick, with Season 29 taking place less than two weeks later.
So, let’s have a look at everything you need to know about DreamLeague Season 28, including its schedule, participating teams, structure, prize pool, and how to watch the event.
When is DreamLeague Season 28?
Dota 2 DreamLeague Season 28 is an online tournament taking place in Europe, much like previous DreamLeague seasons. It will take place from February 16 to March 1, split into three different phases.
As an online-only event, there is no venue to go to, like the other DreamLeague tournaments, hence why they can occur as frequently as they do.
DreamLeague Season 28: Teams and how they qualify
In total, 16 teams have qualified for DreamLeague Season 28, many of which are names you probably recognise, like last year’s The International winner, Team Falcons. All teams qualify through different means, six of which do so through the EPT Leaderboard.
Here are all 16 teams and how they all qualified for the event:
- Team Yandex – EPT Leaderboard
- Team Spirit – EPT Leaderboard
- PARIVISION – EPT Leaderboard
- Xtreme Gaming – EPT Leaderboard
- OG – EPT Leaderboard
- Tundra Esports – EPT Leaderboard
- MOUZ – WEU (Western Europe) Qualifier
- Team Liquid – WEU (Western Europe) Qualifier
- Natus Vincere – WEU (Western Europe) Qualifier
- Team Falcons – WEU (Western Europe) Qualifier
- BetBoom Team – EEU (Eastern Europe) Qualifier
- Execration – SEA (South East Asia) Qualifier
- Gamer Legion – NA (North America) Qualifier
- paiN Gaming – SA (South America) Qualifier
- Yakult Brothers – CN (China) Regional Slot
- TBD – Division 2 Season 3
DreamLeague Season 28: Schedule and structure
As mentioned before, Dota 2 DreamLeague Season 28 will be split into three stages across the two weeks. The stages are as follows:
Stage 1 (February 16 – 19):
- Two round-robin groups featuring eight teams
- The eight teams are the bottom eight seeds
- Matches are two-game series
- 1st-4th place teams in each group advance to Stage 2
- 5th-8th are eliminated from the tournament
Stage 2 (February 20 – 27):
- One round-robin group featuring 8 teams
- Matches are Bo3
- 1st and 2nd place move to the Playoff Upper Bracket
- 3rd and 4th move to the Playoff Lower Bracket
- 5th-8th are eliminated from the tournament
Stage 3 (February 28 – March 1):
- 4-team double-elimination bracket
- 2 teams start upper bracket, 2 teams lower
- Matches are best-of-three, except Grand Finals, which is best-of-five
DreamLeague Season 28: How to watch
As with all the DreamLeague events, Season 28 can be watched on various official ESL streams. It is streamed in English on:
- Twitch: ESL_DOTA2
- YouTube: ESL Dota 2
Official ESL non-English streams are also being broadcast on Kick, VKVideo, and Facebook.
DreamLeague Season 28: Prize pool
Despite its frequency, DreamLeague events boast a mighty $1 million prize pool. This is split into two sections: the Prize Money, at $750,000 and the Club Share, for $250,000. Players will also be competing for EPT points, and all are split as follows:
| Place | Prize Money | Club Reward | EPT Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250,000 | $40,000 | 4,800 |
| 2nd | $100,000 | $30,000 | 4,000 |
| 3rd | $80,000 | $25,000 | 3,200 |
| 4th | $60,000 | $20,000 | 2,560 |
| 5th | $45,000 | $15,000 | 1,920 |
| 6th | $35,000 | $15,000 | 1,600 |
| 7th | $30,000 | $12,500 | 960 |
| 8th | $25,000 | $12,500 | 640 |
| 9 – 10th | $20,000 | $10,000 | 400 |
| 10th | $20,000 | $10,000 | 400 |
| 11 -12th | $17,500 | $10,000 | 200 |
| 13 – 14th | $15,000 | $10,000 | 112 |
| 15 – 16th | $10,000 | $10,000 | 48 |
| Group Stage 1 First Place Bonus | 420 | ||
| Group Stage 1 Second Place Bonus | 210 | ||
| Group Stage 1 Third Place Bonus | 105 | ||
| Group Stage 2 First Place Bonus | 420 | ||
Conclusion
DreamLeague 28 will be one of Dota 2 esports 2026’s biggest events, by virtue of it being a Tier 1 event. The DreamLeague events have been a staple in the competitive scene for a reason, and are a great example of how to do a high-profile, online tournament.
With a significant prize pool, official streams that make it easy to watch, and 16 of the best teams in the world, there’s no reason why DreamLeague Season 28 won’t be another roaring success. These Tier 1 events will come thick and fast, with this one taking place right after BLAST Slam IV and right before DreamLeague Season 29.
FAQs
When is DreamLeague Season 28?
DreamLeague Season 28 will begin on February 16 and run until March 1, 2026.
How can I watch DreamLeague Season 28?
You can watch the event on official ESL streams on YouTube and Twitch.
What is the biggest Dota 2 esports event?
The biggest Dota 2 event is The International, with millions of dollars up for grabs in prize money due to a crowd-funded prize pool. The current champion of The International is Team Falcons.
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