DreamLeague Season 26 is the next big Dota 2 tournament that will begin just a few days from now. It is one of those events that no Dota 2 fan wants to miss out on, so it’s time to learn more about it. We at Blix.gg have analysed everything you need to know, so let’s check the format, prize pool, favorites, and more.
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DreamLeague Season 26 Overview
Tundra Esports have withdrawn from #DreamLeague Season 26, and have been replaced by the next eligible team from the qualifiers; NAVI Junior.
For more information, please read our blog post:https://t.co/hKWcOJrOwz— ESL Dota2 (@ESLDota2) May 1, 2025
As the tournament suggests, this is the 26th season of one of Dota 2’s most popular event series. DreamLeague is organized by ESL Gaming and is famous for bringing together some of the best teams in the world and offering a jaw-dropping prize pool. In the case of DL S26, we will see 16 teams fighting for $1 M.
What makes DreamLeague Season 26 extra special is the EPT points. Teams need those points to secure a slot for the Esports World Cup 2025. All previous DreamLeague events also provided these points, but this one is more special because it is the last one before the EWC 2025.
DL S26 will be an online event played on the Europe West server between May 19 and June 1. As for the event’s sponsors, you have the usual suspects – 1xBet, DHL, Anthros and the Esports World Cup.
DreamLeague Season 26 Format
If we take a look at the DreamLeague Season 26 format, we will see that 4 teams got here because of their placement on the EPT Leaderboard. 10 squads came here following the regional qualifiers, and two teams are from the ACL x ESL Challenger China.
DL S26 will have two group stages and playoffs. Starting with Group Stage 1, there will be two round-robin groups of 8 teams. Each series will have two games, and the top 4 teams from each group will advance to the second round. Sadly, all of the rest will be eliminated.
Speaking of Group Stage 2, it will be one group with eight teams that will play in a Bo3 format. The top two teams here will receive a slot for the playoffs’ upper bracket, whereas the third and fourth-placed teams will be in the lower bracket. All of the other teams will be eliminated.
In terms of the Playoffs, there will be a double-elimination bracket with a Bo3 series. Only the Grand Final will be in a Bo5.
Teams
With a total of 16 teams, DreamLeague Season 26 will bring together all of the current top Dota 2 squads. In fact, here is a list of all the names you need to know:
- Team Falcons
- BetBoom Team
- PARIVISION
- Gaimin Gladiator
- NAVI Junior
- Team Liquid
- Nigma Galaxy
- Aurora Gaming
- AVULUS
- Talon Esports
- Shoplift Rebellion
- BOOM Esports
- Nigma Galaxy
- Xtreme Gaming
- OG.LATAM
- Edge
- Yakult Brothers
It’s safe to say that this event will be a lot more interesting to watch than the previous two. Sure, we can find many familiar names, but there are also plenty of new clubs that we haven’t seen in a while.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment is that Tundra Esports withdrew from the event. This is the reason why we will see NAVI Junior in action.
Let’s review some of the potential favorites and the teams you should pay more attention to.
PARIVISION
The first team that many people will follow closely is PARIVISION. Although the squad failed to win BLAST Slam 3, the team won the ESL One Raleigh 2025 and finished 2nd at PGL Wallachia Season 4.
Although the team hasn’t had the best results lately, it definitely knows how to navigate its current meta. This puts it in a good position to win or at least scure a top 3 finish.
Team Falcons
After reaching the Grand Final at BLAST Slam 3, it is no surprise that Team Falcons is the next favorite on our list. Despite the fact that the squad hasn’t had the best results in 2025 so far, TF is in a solid position to win any big event. It’s safe to say that the team has made big progress in the last couple of months, so fans will be eager to see if it will succeed.
Team Liquid
Despite not achieving the results people were hoping for at BLAST Slam III, Team Liquid remains one of the best in the world. In 2025, Team Liquid won the PGL Wallachia Season 3 and, more recently, the PGL Wallachia Season 4. The latter happened just a few weeks ago, and Liquid defeated PARIVISION.
The Most Interesting Teams to Follow
Alongside some of the favorites, this Dota 2 tournament will give us access to a lot of intriguing squads. Each name you are about to see can surprise us with its results, so it will be very interesting to follow them closely.
OG.LATAM
There is no denying that OG.LATAM will be the most interesting Dota 2 team at DreamLeague Season 26. This will be the first big tournament for OG’s new roster. In fact, the latter was announced just a few days ago, so fans will be eager to see it in action against some of the best. There is no arguing that the team looks promising on paper, but we are yet to see if it will live up to people’s expectations.
BOOM Esports
It has been a while since we have seen BOOM Esports in action on the big stage. Once one of the best teams in SEA, the squad has had many problems in the last couple of years that have not allowed it to unleash its full potential. With that said, the team has an excellent roster right now and it can upset even the best in the world.
Xtreme Gaming
The Chinese Dota 2 scene has not been as good as it once was, but there are a few promising teams from the region that deserve more attention. Needless to say, Xtreme Gaming is one of them, and we expect the team to perform well at DreamLeague Season 26.
Conclusion
ESL’s last big Dota 2 event for this season will begin in just a few days from now. We expect to see an epic clash between some of the best in the world, so don’t forget to follow us for more information.
