Nearly a year has passed since Team Falcons hoisted the Aegis of Champions as the final team standing in Hamburg. But that was last year's story, and the time has come to turn our thoughts to Shanghai and the crop of competitors who vie to write the tale of this year. All of their battles have brought them to the precipice. The International is just two weeks away.
After a decisive month of intense qualifiers, dominant performances from prior champions, and upset victories from up-and-comers, all sixteen teams have earned their invitations to this year's International.
Now it's time for us to extend an invitation to you.
We've just released an update featuring this year's TI-themed activities and item bundles. Not sure what that means? Keep reading for a handy guide to all the different ways to participate so you can find the content that's most interesting to you.
- I want to directly support my favorite teams and personalities.
With supporter bundles for all sixteen teams and more than a hundred participating event talent, there's never been a better time to support your favorites. In addition to the four primary event languages, this year we're also offering community bundles for WXC Co. (Filipino), NS_ART (Brazilian Portuguese), and Maincast (Ukrainian). 50% of sales from supporter bundles (teams, talent, and community broadcasts) goes directly to the team or talent and 30% goes to the tournament prize pool.
- I want to show off that I supported my favorite team.
Purchasing team supporter bundles of various levels will grant all kinds of things: custom sprays, a special badge for your health bar, custom team emoticons, custom chat wheel lines, and — new this year as a part of the Gold tier — a global effigy. This new building will replace your regular effigy through the end of September, allowing you to show your team support right in your base. Not supportive enough? You can purchase additional supporter levels that will upgrade the appearance of your effigy, including custom effects.
- I'm right about everything. Help me prove it.
Predictions are back: How will the Swiss matches shake out? What about the bracket? Fun fact: Exactly zero have ever gotten the full Swiss stage results correct. Will you be the first this year? Not if you don't get your guesses in before the first match starts (10am CST, Thursday 8/13).
- I'm a huge fan of my favorite team but also I dislike all of their choices and wish I was in charge.
We've got a new take on fantasy this year. We've introduced a new customization point: You. You're the coach, and can now assign custom modifiers to yourself that influence your whole team. We've also updated prefixes, suffixes, and the player drafting rules. You'll draft your perfect team in (mostly) pairs: both supports from one team, the safelaner and offlaner from one team, and then your favorite midlaner.
- I am a Dota player and I'm already assuming I'll be the best at everything. What do I win?
Like last year, awards will be granted to participating players based on their performance relative to everyone else. The Tyrian Regalia treasure is making a royal return with five refashioned Immortal items, exclusively available to the top performing players. New this year is the Terrain Token, which will allow winners to choose one of six returning custom terrains, including Reef's Edge and Immortal Gardens. Look for more information, including reward tiers and lots of details, in the Rewards section of the main Dota 2 menu.
- All of this is great but I did my predictions and my fantasy and supported the teams and talent already. What do I do now?
Good news for you: We also just shipped a new gameplay patch along with a ton of content fixes. Check out the Summer Scrub 2026 page for more details.