The International 2026 returns to Shanghai

The International, the annual Dota 2 world championship, will return to Shanghai in August 2026. This will be the first time the tournament is held in the city since 2019, making Shanghai the only city outside Seattle to host the event more than once.

The announcement was made by Dota 2 developer Valve ahead of the TI14 Grand Final, held at the Barclays Arena in Hamburg, Germany, on Sept 15.

Despite falling 3-2 to Team Falcons, Chinese team Xtreme Gaming delivered a standout performance, dominating the Swiss Stage, surpassing expectations, and ultimately claiming second place.

Since its inception in 2011, The International has been held 14 times across multiple cities. With a record-breaking prize pool exceeding $40 million, it remains the world's most lucrative esports tournament.

China has played a central role in Dota 2's development, cultivating a large player base and vibrant esports ecosystem over the past decade.

A report on China's esports sector showed that revenue in the first half of 2025 reached 12.8 billion yuan ($1.8 billion), up 6.1 percent year-on-year, with nearly 493 million users.

Perfect World Esports, the exclusive operator of Dota 2 in China, said it will draw on its experience, integrate resources, and strengthen collaboration to deliver an even higher-level and more influential event when TI returns to Shanghai.