North American esports organisation Cloud9 is actively looking to field a Halo roster for DreamHack Birmingham, signalling a short-term return to the esport for the opening event of the 2026 season.
The update was shared by Cloud9 Halo coach Trevor ‘SenscR’ Frees, who confirmed the organisation is seeking an established team to compete at the UK-based event running from March 27 to 29.
Cloud9 Eyes DreamHack Birmingham
On January 28, SenscR advised interested teams to get in touch ahead of the Halo competitions at DreamHack Birmingham. The event forms part of the wider DreamHack festival in the United Kingdom and will host several Halo tournaments as part of the 2026 season.
We’re looking to field a team for this upcoming event under @Cloud9.
If you’re interested in representing one of the world’s top esports organizations in Birmingham, let’s connect. https://t.co/RPeDIIYDIE
— sensor (@SenscRs) January 28, 2026
While Cloud9 does not currently have a signed Halo roster, the organisation is no stranger to the scene. It has competed in Halo esports since 2014 and most recently placed top six at the 2025 Halo World Championship, the final Halo Championship Series event played on Halo Infinite.
A Long History In Halo Esports
Across its 12-year involvement in Halo, Cloud9 has recorded multiple deep tournament runs. In 2022, the organisation secured three second-place finishes at the Kansas City and Orlando Majors before ending the season as runners-up to OpTic Gaming at the Halo World Championship.
Despite that history, Cloud9 was among several organisations to release its Halo roster in October 2025 following the departure of Halo Infinite from the Halo Championship Series. The move marked a wider reset for the esport, with teams reassessing their long-term involvement.
How Halo Esports Continues In 2026
Halo esports is continuing in 2026 through a partnership with ESL FACEIT Group. As part of that agreement, DreamHack Birmingham will host multiple Halo tournaments, including the main Halo Infinite 4v4 event.
Qualification begins in February, with teams from around the world competing across two online Open Series and a final online qualifier. Points earned during the Open Series determine who advances, with the qualifier setting the top four seeds for the DreamHack Birmingham Halo Open. The 4v4 LAN event will feature a $4,000 prize pool.
Registrations for the Halo events open on February 5, giving prospective teams a narrow window to prepare for the Birmingham stop.
Prize Pools And Event Details
DreamHack has confirmed a combined $100,000 prize pool for Halo events at Birmingham, with $86,000 allocated to the Halo Infinite 4v4 tournament. The top 10 teams from a 32-team field will earn prize money, while the eventual champion will take home $35,000.
Cloud9’s interest in Birmingham comes despite being named one of four partnered teams for the 2026 season, alongside Shopify Rebellion, Spacestation Gaming, and FaZe Clan. Whether this DreamHack appearance becomes a one-off or the start of a longer return remains unclear.
DreamHack Birmingham’s Wider Esports Line-Up
Beyond Halo, DreamHack Birmingham will host several major esports competitions at the NEC Arena. The festival includes ESL One Dota 2, where 16 teams will compete for a $1 million prize pool.
The city will also stage Call of Duty League Major II, featuring a revised format with a round-robin group stage, a four-team play-in, and an eight-team double-elimination playoff. In addition, Birmingham will be a stop on the Call of Duty Warzone Resurgence Series, with the top four teams qualifying for the Esports World Cup later in the year.
For Cloud9, DreamHack Birmingham offers a low-commitment path back into Halo competition, and a chance to test the waters as the esport reshapes itself in 2026.