DreamHack
World's largest LAN
The Swedish event that grew from a small LAN party in 1994 to the world's largest digital festival, holding the Guinness record for most connected computers.
Overview
DreamHack is a Swedish digital festival that grew from a small LAN party in 1994 to become the world’s largest, holding the Guinness World Record for most computers connected to a single LAN (22,810 in 2013). It combines LAN gaming, esports tournaments, demo competitions, and tech exhibitions into a massive multi-day event that defined the LAN party concept for a generation.
Fast Facts
- Founded: 1994
- Location: Jönköping, Sweden (main)
- Peak attendance: 26,000+ participants
- World record: 22,810 connected computers
- Evolution: LAN party → esports festival
- Global: Now held in multiple countries
Evolution
| Era | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| 1994-2000 | Small Swedish LAN |
| 2001-2010 | Growth, records broken |
| 2010-2015 | Esports becomes focus |
| 2015+ | Global brand, multiple events |
What Happens at DreamHack
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| BYOC | Bring Your Own Computer LAN |
| Esports | Major tournament venue |
| Demo competitions | Scene tradition continues |
| Expo | Hardware, games, tech |
| Concerts | Entertainment programming |
| Cosplay | Community activities |
The BYOC Experience
Bring Your Own Computer is DreamHack’s heart:
- Thousands of attendees bring PCs
- Massive halls of gaming
- 24/7 access (multi-day event)
- Community atmosphere
- File sharing, gaming, socialising
Esports Significance
DreamHack became a premier esports venue:
| Game | Tournament |
|---|---|
| Counter-Strike | Major championships |
| StarCraft II | Premier events |
| Dota 2 | Major tournaments |
| Various | Multi-game events |
Global Expansion
DreamHack expanded beyond Sweden:
- DreamHack Winter (main event)
- DreamHack Summer
- DreamHack Dallas
- DreamHack Melbourne
- Multiple countries
Demo Scene Connection
Unlike pure esports events, DreamHack maintained demo scene roots:
- Demo competitions
- Scene productions
- Demoscene attendees
- Historical connection
Legacy
DreamHack represents the evolution of LAN party culture from basement gatherings to massive international festivals. It proved that gaming events could scale to tens of thousands while maintaining community spirit, and it bridged the gap between casual LAN gaming and professional esports.