The International 2026: Preview, Form & Who to Watch
There's the rest of the Dota 2 season, and then there's this. The International — the game's oldest and most prestigious event — returns to Shanghai in 2026, and it arrives with a title picture reshuffled by a dramatic summer at the Esports World Cup. Here's the form guide.
The International, back in Shanghai
TI 2026 is held at the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, running August 13–23 — the second time China's biggest city has hosted Dota's showpiece. Sixteen teams contest a Swiss-format group stage (August 13–16) that seeds a double-elimination main event (August 20–23), ending in a best-of-five Grand Final.
One thing that's changed from the TI of a few years ago: since Valve retired the crowdfunded Battle Pass, the prize pool is no longer a record-chasing spectacle. TI 2026 runs on a fixed base pool of $1.6 million — smaller than the crowdfunded peaks, but the prestige of the Aegis of Champions is undimmed. Every match is free on Twitch and YouTube, and you can also watch in-client via DotaTV.
The 2026 form guide
The summer's biggest result came at the Esports World Cup Dota 2 event in Paris (July 7–19), where PARIVISION stormed the tournament — going 9–1 in the group stage and beating BetBoom Team 3–1 in the final, coached by the legendary Puppey. That win vaulted PARIVISION into the conversation as one of the form teams heading toward Shanghai.
They're not the only ones peaking. Tundra Esports won ESL One Birmingham 2026, and BetBoom Team — the EWC runner-up — had earlier taken PGL Wallachia Season 8 with a 3–0 sweep of Aurora. Between them, PARIVISION, BetBoom and Tundra have shared most of the season's biggest trophies.
Recent International champions
| 2025 | Team Falcons |
| 2024 | Team Liquid |
| 2023 | Team Spirit (3–0 vs Gaimin Gladiators) |
| 2022 | Tundra Esports |
| 2021 | Team Spirit |
Team Spirit are the modern era's benchmark with two Aegis wins, and Team Falcons arrive in Shanghai as the defending champions. No organization has ever won back-to-back Internationals — that's the piece of history Falcons will be chasing.
Ones to Watch
Our picks below are informed opinion based on the form above — not a crystal ball.
The hottest team of the summer. They went 9–1 in the EWC group stage and won the whole thing under Puppey's coaching. On current form, they're a genuine title threat rather than a dark horse.
A final and a trophy already banked this season. They pushed PARIVISION at the EWC and swept Aurora at Wallachia — the most consistent deep-run team of 2026.
The reigning champions, chasing the first-ever TI repeat. Pedigree alone makes them dangerous, and no one wants to draw the holders in the bracket.
A past International winner back in trophy-winning form after Birmingham. When Tundra's draft engine is firing, they can beat anyone in a best-of-five.
How to watch: Every match of The International streams free on Twitch and YouTube, or in-client via DotaTV. For the wider picture, see our How to Watch Dota 2 in 2026 guide.
Full event details & how to watch →
Form and standings verified as of publication (Sunday, July 26, 2026). "Ones to watch" are our opinion — see our Editorial Policy. Start times shown in US Eastern; on the schedule they convert to your local zone.
