Gabe Newell has announced that The International 2026 will be held in Shanghai, China.
Valve’s President revealed the location for next year’s International during the Grand Finals of The International 14, which took place in Hamburg, Germany over the weekend.
“I want to thank everyone in Germany for making The International such a success,” Newell stated. “I have an announcement to make before we crown a new champion.
“We all share our love of the game with an international community, and I’m excited to announce that next year’s International will also be returning to a previous location. I hope to see you there.”
The International 2026 Leaves Europe
Shanghai is not a new location for The International. It was held in the same city back in 2019, but has since been hosted by Bucharest, Romania, Singapore, Seattle, Washington, Copenhagen, Denmark, and Hamburg, Germany.
A return to Shanghai could be big for Dota 2. The game has declined in popularity in the country due to China’s gaming restrictions and focus on other titles. Bringing the largest Dota 2 tournament of the year to Shanghai could reignite some excitement for the classic MOBA. BLAST Slam V is heading to Chengdu in December 2025 due to the city’s growing interest in esports.
The Dota 2 community expressed excitement for another Asia-based International since so many have been held in Europe in recent years. Of course, this is likely due to Europe being the most successful region in the Dota 2 scene and having huge fanbases across the continent.
Some fans also threw out a few suggestions themselves, including many hoping for the Philippines. This country’s esports growth has been huge in the past few years, although it’s largely been focused on mobile titles.
Dota 2 fans remember The International’s massive opening ceremony back in 2019, and 2026 could be another memorable banger.
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