The TL;DR
- DreamLeague Season 28 is the second Tier 1 Dota 2 esports event of the year.
- This tournament is online only, takes place in Europe where 16 teams compete.
- There are three stages, two of which are stages leading to the play-offs.
- There is a total prize pool of $1 million, $750,000 going to the players and $250,000 being the club’s share.
- You can watch the event via the ESL YouTube and official Twitch streams.
The Dota 2 esports season is officially underway, with its first Tier 1 event, BLAST Slam VI, underway, and its second tournament coming after that. DreamLeague has been the scene of Dota 2 esports since its first season event in 2013, and more than 12 years later, it has reached Season 28.
As the foundation of Tier 1, DreamLeague Season 28 is tough, has one of the largest prize pools in Dota 2, and brings the best teams in the world to the tournament. DreamLeague events are coming fast and furious, with Season 29 taking place less than two weeks later.
So, let’s take a look at everything you need to know about DreamLeague Season 28, including its schedule, participating teams, formation, prize pool, and how to watch the event.
When is DreamLeague Season 28?
Dota 2 DreamLeague Season 28 is an online tournament that takes place in Europe, just like previous DreamLeague seasons. It will take place from February 16 to March 1, divided into three different stages.
As an online-only event, there is no place to go, like other DreamLeague tournaments, which is why it can happen as often as it does.
DreamLeague Season 28: Teams and how they qualify
In total, 16 teams have qualified for DreamLeague Season 28, most of which are names you may be familiar with, such as last year’s winner of The International, Team Falcons. All teams qualify in different ways, six of which do so via 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 Leaderboard – EPT
- Tundra Esports – EPT Leaderboard
- MOUZ – WEU (Western Europe) Qualifier
- Team Liquid – WEU (Western Europe) Qualifier
- Natus Vincere – WEU (Western Europe) Qualifier
- Falcons Team – WEU (Western Europe) Qualifier
- BetBoom Team – EEU (Eastern Europe) Eligibility
- Execration – SEA (South East Asia) Qualifier
- Gamer Legion – NA (North America) Eligibility
- PaiN Gaming – SA (South America) Qualifier
- Yakult Brothers – CN (China) Regional Slot
- TBD – Division 2 Season 3
DreamLeague Season 28: Schedule and Plot
As mentioned before, Dota 2 DreamLeague Season 28 will be divided into three stages every two weeks. The categories are as follows:
Stage 1 (February 16-19):
- Two round robin teams of eight
- The top eight teams are the lowest
- The match is a series of two games
- The 1st-4th place teams in each group advance to Stage 2
- 5th-8th are eliminated from the tournament
Section 2 (February 20-27):
- One group round-robin with 8 teams
- The same is Bo3
- 1st and 2nd place go to the Playoff Upper Bracket
- Step 3 and 4 into the Playoff Lower Bracket
- 5th-8th are eliminated from the tournament
Stage 3 (February 28 – March 1):
- Double elimination bracket for 4 teams
- The top 2 teams start the upper bracket, the bottom 2 teams
- Matches are best of three, except for Grand Finals, which are best of five
DreamLeague Season 28: How to watch
As with all DreamLeague events, Season 28 can be viewed on various official ESL broadcasts. Broadcast in English on:
Official non-English ESL radio stations are also broadcast on Kick, VKVideo, and Facebook.
DreamLeague Season 28: Prize pool
Despite its frequency, DreamLeague events boast a prize pool of 1 million. This is divided into two categories: Prize Money, at $750,000 and Club Share, at $250,000. Players will also compete for EPT points, and they are all broken down as follows:
| Location | Prize Money | Club Award | EPT Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 st | $250,000 | $40,000 | 4,800 |
| Second time | $100,000 | $30,000 | 4,000 |
| 3rd | $80,000 | $25,000 | 3,200 |
| 4th | $60,000 | $20,000 | 2,560 |
| 5 of | $45,000 | $15,000 | 1,920 |
| 6 of | $35,000 | $15,000 | 1,600 |
| In the 7th | $30,000 | $12,500 | 960 |
| 8th | $25,000 | $12,500 | 640 |
| 9-10 | $20,000 | $10,000 | 400 |
| 10 | $20,000 | $10,000 | 400 |
| 11-12 | $17,500 | $10,000 | 200 |
| 13-14 | $15,000 | $10,000 | 112 |
| 15-16 | $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 | ||
The conclusion
DreamLeague 28 will be one of the biggest events of Dota 2 esports 2026, because it is a Tier 1 event. DreamLeague events have been a staple in the competitive scene for a reason, and are a great example of how to run a high quality online tournament.
With a significant prize pool, official streaming that makes it easy to watch, and 16 of the best teams in the world, there’s no reason why DreamLeague Season 28 can’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 before DreamLeague Season 29.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is DreamLeague Season 28?
DreamLeague Season 28 will begin on February 16 and continue until March 1, 2026.
How can I watch DreamLeague Season 28?
You can watch the event on ESL’s official YouTube and Twitch streams.
What is the biggest Dota 2 esports event?
Dota 2’s biggest event is the International, with millions of dollars up for grabs thanks to a crowd-funded prize pool. The current champion of The International is Team Falcons.
