Valve Corporation has revealed the first details about The International 2026, the flagship Dota 2 event of the current competitive season. The organizers have confirmed the dates for the regional qualifiers and shared initial information about the host venue. The list of directly invited teams will be announced at a later stage, as the competitive season is still in its early phase. Below, you’ll find all the latest key details about The International 2026.
When and where will The International 2026 take place?
The defining moments of this competitive season will unfold in China. To celebrate the 15th Anniversary of The International, the world’s premier Dota 2 teams will gather to compete for the legendary Aegis of Champions.
For the past five years, The International has been staged in the fall, a scheduling choice that helped avoid clashes with other major events such as the Esports World Cup. In 2026, however, Valve Corporation is returning to its traditional calendar, with The International 2026 scheduled for late summer. The main event will take place from August 20–23 at the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai.
The International 2026 qualifications and participants
Sixteen elite teams (TBA) will vie for glory. The roster will be comprised of:
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Direct invitees: Teams recognized for their season-long dominance.
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Qualifier champions:
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Open qualifiers (June 9–12);
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Closed regional qualifiers (June 15–28).
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Once the field is set and the action shifts to Shanghai, the contenders must navigate a high-stakes Swiss-style Group Stage (August 13–16). Only the top eight teams will secure a spot on the main stage for the showdown.
Where to watch The International 2026?
Official coverage of The International 2026 will be streamed across all major platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook. Asian fans can also catch the action on Chinese platforms such as DouYu, Huya, and Bilibili.
The International 2025 official streams
Beyond the official broadcasts, expect plenty of co-casting from both studio shows and individual content creators. If you prefer to watch through your favorite Dota 2 streamer and don’t mind a slight delay compared to the main feed, head to the game sections during tournament days and pick the influencer you like most.
What Is the prize pool for The International 2026?
The International 2025 will once again start with a base prize pool of $1.6 million, with the total amount growing through a share of Battle Pass sales. However, the event’s prize fund has been declining steeply for three consecutive years. In 2025, community contributions added just $1.2 million to the base figure: a far cry from four years ago, when player spending pushed the total past the $40 million mark.
Most popular The International Dota 2 tournaments
The International remains the premier esports event in Dota 2 and a cornerstone of the global competitive gaming industry. To date, the most popular edition was the 2021 championship in Romania, which peaked at over 2.7 million concurrent viewers.
Shanghai previously hosted The International 2019, which became the last major Dota 2 event before the COVID-19 pandemic brought global esports to a halt. That year, OG claimed the championship title after defeating Team Liquid in the grand final.
As for Chinese representatives, teams from the region have reached The International grand final nine times throughout the tournament’s history, but have lifted the Aegis only on three occasions.
