ESL has unveiled the tournament schedule for the 2026/27 Dota 2 season. The DreamLeague prize pool is now less than $1 million
ESL has announced the Dota 2 event calendar for the 2026/27 season. The tournament operator has reduced the prize pools for DreamLeague events by 25–50%.
Upcoming ESL Tournaments
| Tournament | Dates | Total Prize Pool | Prize Pool for Players | Club Prize Pool | ESL Pro Tour Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DreamLeague Season 30 | December 2–13 | $750,000 | $562,500 | $187,500 | 21,100 |
| DreamLeague Season 31 | January 20–31 | $500,000 | $375,000 | $125,000 | 17,786 |
| ESL One Europe | April 4–11 | $1,000,000 | $750,000 | $250,000 | 35,460 |
| DreamLeague Season 32 | April 26–May 9 | $750,000 | $562,500 | $187,500 | 27,550 |
The organizers explained the prize pool adjustment as a desire to highlight a mid-season LAN tournament to be held in Europe. Sixteen teams will participate; half will be invited based on the EPT rankings, and at least one spot each is reserved for Western and Eastern Europe, China, Southeast Asia, and South America. Three additional spots have been set aside for the winners of the qualifiers, though the specific locations have not yet been determined. Qualifiers will take place from January 30 to February 7.
The return of the second division has also been announced; these tournaments will be played on the Western European server:
| Tournament | Dates | Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|
| DreamLeague Division 2 Series 5 | November 6–19 | $50,000 |
| DreamLeague Division 2 Series 6 | January 9–18 | $30,000 |
| DreamLeague Division 2 Series 7 | April 13–24 | $50,000 |
In addition, ESL has released a preliminary schedule for the 2027–28 season:
| Tier 1 tournaments | Dates |
|---|---|
| First Tournament | November–December 2027 |
| Second tournament | January–February 2028 |
| Third tournament | March–April 2028 |
| Fourth tournament | April–May 2028 |
| Tier 2 Tournaments | Dates |
|---|---|
| First tournament | September–October 2027 |
| Second tournament | November 2027 |
| Third tournament | January 2028 |
| Fourth tournament | February 2028 |
This month, the professional Dota 2 scene will host a series of smaller tournaments, as well as the first major championship of the new season—PGL Wallachia Season 9, with a $1 million prize pool. BLAST Slam VIII will begin in late September.
Photo by Adela Sznajder, ESL.
