DreamHack heads to Shanghai in 2025

ESL FACEIT Group has announced the debut of DreamHack Shanghai in 2025, bringing the gaming festival to China for the first time.

The event’s debut will coincide with Hero Esports’ Asian Champions League, which is set to take place in the same city on the same weekend.

According to the announcement, the two events will feature top-tier competitions, guest influencers and include DreamHack staples such as the expo floor, Artist Alley and Community Playground.

Dreamhack is one of ESL FACEIT Group’s largest event brands, having built a strong legacy across North America and Europe. Late last year, the company confirmed that it will host DreamHack Dallas in May 2025.

It’s not surprising to see DreamHack expand to China, with the country heavily investing in hosting esports events as of late.

Last year, Chengdu became a host city for major esports international competitions such as Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) and League of Legends’ Mid-Season Invitational. Moreover, both Counter-Strike 2 and League of Legends will return in 2025, the latter of which is for the League of Legends World Championship.

Just like DreamHack, the Asian Champions League (ACL) will also make its debut this year.

Taking place at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, the new multi-title tournament aims to be the region’s ‘most diverse, and accessible esports event to date’. In a trailer announcing the event last year, titles such as Street Fighter, League of Legends and PUBG were highlighted.

“Pairing the first-ever Asian Champions League with the debut of DreamHack Shanghai sets a new standard for esports and gaming experiences in Asia,” commented Jonny (Xinyi) Wang, ACL Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Hero Esports.

“With China as a global hub for gaming and home to hundreds of millions of passionate players, taking over Shanghai with both events creates an unmissable moment for the community. This is a celebration where fans of every genre can unite to celebrate their love for gaming—on the stage, on the show floor, and create lifelong memories together.”