The sixteen best Dota teams in the world spent the last week battling through an intense Group Stage, and now only eight contenders remain. In a matter of hours Team Vision, Team Liquid, Nigma Galaxy, Team Falcons, BoomBoys, Team Spirit, Iron Wing, and Team Yandex will begin the final push to claim the Aegis of Champions as they all fight to be the last team standing at The International 2026.
The double elimination bracket that will crown our champions kicks off at SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai on Thursday, August 20 and will culminate in a best-of-five Grand Finals on Sunday, August 23. We congratulate everyone who has made it this far, and we eagerly await the final test.
If you're heading to the arena in Shanghai to watch The International live, a flurry of activity awaits you. Check out some of the more important details below.
The International pre-show begins each day at 9:30 AM China Standard Time. Things officially kick off with the Opening Ceremony at 10 AM on Thursday, and the first series is scheduled to start soon after. On the following days, matches will begin at 10 AM. Take in the full schedule of matches available here.
Each day of the Main Event, fans will have the chance to attend meet and greets with teams and talent on the 2F Concourse of the arena. Fan participation will be determined by a random draw of eligible ticket holders who have purchased tickets prior to 5 PM the day before. Selected fans will be notified electronically — as well as on TV displays throughout the venue concourse. More information on slots and eligibility will be provided on site.
Attendees should pick up their commemorative badges and event swag bags when they scan a digital ticket for their first entry into the venue. Remember to bind your badge to your Steam account to ensure you're eligible for Crimson Witness Treasure drops on the First Blood of each game at The International.
To help things run smoothly, here's a rundown of some venue details you should know:
What time do doors open? Arena doors open every day at 8 AM China Standard Time, two hours before the first match. Please note that entry will not be allowed after 9 PM each evening.
Where should I enter the arena? Please queue for entrance at the arena's Gate 0 Plaza. Those with 1F Stands and Suites tickets, please queue at the left-side (facing the venue) security checkpoint. Those with 3F Stands tickets, please queue at the right-side (facing the venue) security checkpoint. After passing through the turnstile for ticket verification, please collect your swag bag.
Can I sit anywhere or are there preassigned seats? Seats at The International 2026 are assigned. Please make sure to queue in the entry area designated outside of the arena for your seating sections.
Is re-entry permitted? All ticket holders are permitted to enter and exit the venue up to THREE times per match day. For re-entry, please re-queue in the designated lane.
The Secret Shop will operate in SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center from August 20 - 23, opening each day at 9:00am and closing after the first break of the last series of the day. Customers are welcome to purchase directly from on-site cashiers or use the Perfect World app to place an order for pick-up.
In addition to SecretLab and SteelSeries booths in the concourse, The International Players Jackets and Championship rings from all previous years will be on display. Plus, all fans are invited to leave their mark on the event by signing one of the graffiti walls. There will also be opportunities to take photos with cosplayers roaming the arena on Saturday and Sunday, and don't forget to check out the handmade embroidered Aegis of Champions on display throughout the event.
Don't miss the best of this year's crop of Dota 2 cosplay, on display in the arena on August 23 before the Grand Finals.
Even if you can't make it to the arena, there are still a ton of options to catch all the action at The International. From Twitch to YouTube to Steam, The International will be streamed on multiple platforms in multiple languages.
Fans interested in purchasing swag from this year's offerings are welcome to purchase online. We have two shops available, depending on which part of the world you're in. Fans located in China can purchase through https://wmsjdj.tmall.com/ and fans everywhere else can head over to https://pwrdesports.aliexpress.com/ to check it all out.