Valve has officially announced the key dates for The International 2026, which will mark the 15th edition of Dota 2’s world championship tournament.
This year’s main event is set to take place at the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China, bringing together the world’s best Dota 2 teams to compete for the coveted Aegis of Champions.
Official TI 2026 schedule revealed
The road to Shanghai begins with the Open Qualifiers, taking place June 9-12, followed by the Regional Qualifiers from June 15-28. These qualifiers will determine which teams earn their place alongside those receiving direct invites, which are expected to be announced close to the start of the qualifiers.
While TI 2025 featured eight direct invites, Valve has not yet confirmed whether TI 2026 will maintain this format or return to six direct invites similar to TI 2024 to allow more regional teams a chance at qualification.
Once in Shanghai, the 16 teams will compete in a Swiss-style Group Stage from August 13-16, with the top eight advancing to the Main Event on August 20-23.
The TI 2026 in Shanghai is expected to be one of the most eagerly anticipated esports events of the calendar, drawing attention from fans of leading esports betting platforms.
The last time The International took place in China was TI 2019, when OG secured their second consecutive Aegis of Champions after a commanding 3-1 victory over Team Liquid at Shanghai’s Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Last year, Team Falcons claimed TI14 in Hamburg, Germany, narrowly defeating Chinese squad Xtreme Gaming 3-2 in a thrilling grand final.
As Shanghai hosts the 15th anniversary of The International, all eyes will be on whether the Chinese region can finally end its nearly decade-long wait for the Aegis of Champions (dating back to Wings Gaming’s victory in 2016), or if Western teams will extend their streak of dominance.
