The International 2026: Shanghai, China — 15th Anniversary

A Historic Return to Shanghai

The International 2026 marks a momentous milestone as the tournament celebrates its 15th anniversary. The event returns to Shanghai, China, where it was previously held in 2019, bringing the world's best Dota 2 teams to compete at the iconic Oriental Sports Center.

This announcement comes from Valve Corporation through an official Dota 2 blog post, confirming that 16 elite teams will compete for the Aegis of Champions and what is expected to be the largest prize pool in esports history.

Tournament Format and Teams

The International 2026 will feature 16 teams competing across multiple stages. Teams will earn their spots through a combination of Direct Invites based on DPC (Dota Pro Circuit) points and Regional Qualifiers held across six regions: North America, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, China, and Southeast Asia.

The tournament begins with the Group Stage from August 13-16, where all 16 teams will be divided into two groups. Teams will compete in a round-robin format to determine seeding for the Main Event playoffs, which take place from August 20-23 at the Oriental Sports Center.

The Road to Shanghai

The journey to The International 2026 begins with Open Qualifiers scheduled for June 9-12, 2026. These open tournaments allow any team to compete for a chance to advance to Regional Qualifiers, maintaining Dota 2's tradition of providing opportunities for amateur and semi-professional teams to reach the biggest stage.

Following Open Qualifiers, Regional Qualifiers will run from June 15-28, 2026. Each region's qualifying teams will compete for the final spots at The International, joining the directly invited teams based on their DPC performance throughout the season.

Oriental Sports Center Venue

The Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai is a world-class venue that has hosted numerous major sporting and entertainment events. The arena features state-of-the-art facilities and can accommodate thousands of spectators, providing an electric atmosphere for what promises to be one of the most memorable International tournaments in Dota 2 history.

Shanghai has proven to be an excellent host city for major esports events, with strong infrastructure, passionate local fans, and easy international accessibility making it an ideal location for The International's 15th anniversary celebration.

How to Watch

The International 2026 will be broadcast live across multiple streaming platforms including Twitch, YouTube, and official Dota 2 channels in various languages. Fans worldwide will be able to tune in to follow the action from the Group Stage through the Grand Finals.

About The International

The International is Dota 2's premier championship tournament, held annually since 2011. The tournament has become legendary in esports for its massive prize pools, which are partially crowdfunded through the Dota 2 community via the Battle Pass. Previous International tournaments have set world records for esports prize pools, with The International 2021 reaching over $40 million.

The tournament has been hosted in various cities worldwide, including Seattle, Vancouver, Singapore, and Shanghai, always drawing massive international audiences both in-person and online. The 15th anniversary edition promises to be the most spectacular yet.