DreamHack
The World's Largest Digital Festival and Guinness World Record LAN Party
Started in 1994 in a Swedish school basement, DreamHack grew at Elmia in Jönköping into the world's largest LAN gathering, officially recognized by Guinness World Records.
From Basement Gathering to Global Phenomenon
DreamHack began in November 1994 when classmates in Malung, Sweden connected computers to swap demoscene code and pixel art. Moving permanently to the Elmia exhibition center in Jönköping in 2001, it scaled exponentially. Tens of thousands of gamers bringing their own rigs beneath vast glowing rows of ethernet switches set consecutive Guinness World Records for the largest LAN party on Earth.
Cradle of Modern Esports and International Expansion
DreamHack served as the crucible for modern European esports, hosting formative opens for Counter-Strike 1.6, StarCraft II, and the inaugural League of Legends World Championship in 2011. Acquired by MTG and later folded into ESL FACEIT Group, DreamHack festivals now animate Austin, Valencia, Melbourne, and Hyderabad.