The International 2026 returns to Shanghai's Oriental Sports Centre on August 20-23, after 7 years away, celebrating TI's 15th anniversary with 16 teams battling through Swiss-style groups.
Dota 2 fans, get ready for something special. Valve just dropped the news: The International 2026 heads back to Shanghai, China. It's the 15th edition, or TI15, and it's happening August 20-23 at the Oriental Sports Centre.
The International 2026 Dota 2 Championship Back to Shanghai After 7 Years
Shanghai last hosted TI9 seven years ago. That was an epic one. Now it's back for the 15-year anniversary bash. Chinese fans go absolutely wild for Dota. They'll pack the 18,000-seat arena to cheer their local heroes trying to grab the Aegis at home.
The Oriental Sports Center is perfect for this. Huge indoor arena, massive screens, and room for that insane crowd energy. Picture the roars when someone lands a game-winning Black Hole. TI in Shanghai always feels electric.
The International 2026 - the fifteenth anniversary of the event will be held at the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai China between Aug 20-23, 2026. Sixteen teams. Open Qualifiers (June 9-12), Regional Qualifiers (June 15-28), Group Stage (August 13-16). https://t.co/FeZxyh5Nxn pic.twitter.com/sTp6e5MTSD
— Wykrhm Reddy (@wykrhm) February 12, 2026
How Teams Get There
Getting to The International 2026 isn't easy. You gotta survive a brutal qualification path. It starts with Open Qualifiers from June 9-12. Anyone can jump in here. Hundreds of teams worldwide fight just to advance.
Winners move to Regional Qualifiers, June 15-28. This is where regions like NA, Europe, China, and SEA separate the contenders from pretenders. Direct invites go to top teams based on DPC points, but most spots come through these qualifiers.
Exactly 16 teams make it to Shanghai. That's your ticket to glory or heartbreak.
The Swiss Group Stage Twist
Once teams land in China, the pain continues. August 13-16 brings a Swiss-style Group Stage. All 16 teams start together, but only 8 advance to the main event.
Swiss format means you play until you win enough or lose too many. It's high-pressure because one bad matchup can end your TI dreams before the arena even opens. Imagine flying across the world just to get knocked out in groups. Brutal.
The 8 survivors then battle August 20-23 in front of screaming crowds. Single elimination, massive prize pool, and that shiny Aegis up for grabs.
Tickets and What to Expect
Valve hasn't dropped ticket info yet. Expect sales to open in the coming months. They sell out fast, so stay alert. Chinese fans snap them up quickly, but international tickets are usually available too.
The season kicks off now. Teams grinding DPC leagues know every point counts toward Shanghai. Open Qualifiers in June mean prep starts yesterday.
Well, TI has bounced around lately. Last year, TI14 happened in Hamburg, Germany, where Team Falcons won. TI 2024 was in Copenhagen, Denmark, with Team Liquid taking the title. Both Europe. Now back it is to Asia, where Dota feels strongest.
The International 2026 shapes up as one for the history books. 15 years of Dota, back in Shanghai, with new blood mixing with veterans. Will China reclaim the Aegis at home? Or does an underdog write the next chapter? Grab your popcorn. This summer's gonna be legendary.