DreamHack and ESL One will land in Birmingham in March 2026, and Mayor Richard Parker says the tournaments are central to a plan that links big events with local investment, digital skills training, and keeping creative talent in the West Midlands.
Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands, framed the arrivals as more than a spectacle. He called the events a way to “attract more investment and promote what we’re doing here in the region,” and to showcase an already growing gaming, tech, and digital sector. He argued the economic case plainly: more visitors, more visibility, and a better platform to sell the region’s creative output to global partners. The move also leans on existing partnerships and recent cultural wins in Birmingham.
Parker told a roundtable hosted by the ESL FACEIT Group that esports can be a gateway into tech jobs for young people. “Esports is a really effective way of attracting young people into digital and tech and developing skills through gaming,” he said, adding that events like DreamHack Birmingham can help turn passion into employability.
That focus on skills links to local research showing the pandemic amplified existing inequalities for young people, affecting access to technology, work experience, and mental health. Parker views esports as part of a broader set of interventions, rather than a cure-all, that can reintroduce disengaged youth to opportunities.
Parker places gaming alongside film, TV, music, and design as the backbone of his creative economic plan. The city has secured memoranda with Arts Council England and Historic England, and the BBC has expanded its production into Birmingham, relocating shows to Digbeth. He also flagged transport improvements as part of the pitch. “When HS2 is built, we will be just 48 minutes from London,” Parker said, framing faster links as a way to both attract and keep skills in the West Midlands rather than lose them to the capital.
Parker was clear that the strategy is not only about headline events and big names. He highlighted boot camps, training programs, and support for SMEs and freelancers as part of the ecosystem that should benefit from the attention and investment the events bring. New government funding also plays a role, with a £25m allocation from the Creative Places Growth Fund earmarked for Birmingham and other high-growth regions, aimed at building a sustained creative cluster rather than just a one-off event. Birmingham’s March 2026 events are meant to be more than tournaments. They are being positioned as anchors for an ecosystem connecting events, training, media production, and local businesses to create jobs and development pathways for young people.
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