Dota 2‘s The International 2026 Main Event will begin Thursday, August 20, at Shanghai’s SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center. Eight teams remain after the group stage, and Valve has detailed the arena rules, match schedule, viewing options, and fan activities in its Steam announcement.
The surviving teams are Team Vision, Team Liquid, Nigma Galaxy, Team Falcons, BoomBoys, Team Spirit, Iron Wing, and Team Yandex. The group stage ran from August 13 through August 16, with the final eight moving into the championship bracket.
Shanghai Main Event schedule
The double-elimination bracket will run from Thursday, August 20, through Sunday, August 23. The pre-show begins at 9:30 AM China Standard Time each day. Thursday’s Opening Ceremony starts at 10 AM, with the first series scheduled shortly afterward. Matches on the following days will begin at 10 AM.
The tournament will conclude with a best-of-five Grand Final on Sunday, August 23. Fans can track individual series through the full Dota 2 event schedule.
What fans need to know before entering the arena
Arena doors open at 8 AM China Standard Time each day, two hours before the first match. Entry will not be permitted after 9 PM. Seats are assigned, so ticket holders should join the queue designated for their seating section.
The main entrance queue is at the arena’s Gate 0 Plaza. Fans with 1F Stands and Suites tickets should use the security checkpoint on the left when facing the venue, while 3F Stands ticket holders should use the checkpoint on the right. After ticket verification at the turnstiles, attendees can collect their event swag bags.
Re-entry is allowed up to three times per match day, but ticket holders must use the designated re-entry lane each time.
Meet-and-greets, badges, and Crimson Witness drops
Team and talent meet-and-greets will take place on the arena’s 2F Concourse throughout the Main Event. Participation will be decided through a random draw for eligible ticket holders who bought their tickets before 5 PM on the previous day. Selected fans will receive electronic notifications, with additional notices appearing on venue TV displays. Information about time slots and eligibility will be available on site.
Attendees should collect their commemorative badge and swag bag when scanning a digital ticket for their first venue entry. Binding the badge to a Steam account is required for eligibility for Crimson Witness Treasure drops tied to the First Blood of each game.
Secret Shop and activities at SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center
The on-site Secret Shop will operate from August 20 through August 23. It opens at 9:00 a.m. each day and closes after the first break of the final series. Shoppers can buy items from the cashiers or place an order through the Perfect World app for pickup.
The concourse will also feature SecretLab and SteelSeries booths, displays of International player jackets and championship rings from previous years, and graffiti walls where fans can leave their mark. Cosplayers will be available for photos on Saturday and Sunday, while a handmade embroidered Aegis of Champions will be displayed throughout the event.
The year’s Dota 2 cosplay finalists will be shown in the arena on August 23 before the Grand Final.
How to watch The International 2026 online
Fans who cannot attend in Shanghai will be able to watch the Main Event in Chinese, English, Russian, or Spanish. Broadcasts will be available through Twitch, Steam, and the official Dota 2 YouTube channel.
- Chinese: Twitch, Steam, and YouTube.
- English: Twitch, Steam, and YouTube.
- Russian: Twitch, Steam, and YouTube.
- Spanish: Twitch, Steam, and YouTube.
The online Secret Shop will also remain open. Fans in China can order through the China storefront, while customers elsewhere can use the international storefront.
With eight teams left and the Aegis waiting in Shanghai, tell us which contender you think will reach the Grand Final, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram for more gaming coverage.
Dota 2
Developed by Valve
