Valve has published the schedule for The International 2026 opening ceremony and information for tournament attendees

Last week, the top sixteen Dota teams battled it out in intense group stage matches, and now only eight contenders remain in the running for the championship. In just a few hours, Team Vision (PARIVISION), Team Liquid, Nigma Galaxy, Team Falcons, BoomBoys (BetBoom Team), Team Spirit, Iron Wing (1w Team), and Team Yandex will begin their final push for the Aegis and clash in the battle to remain the sole team on the main stage.

The double-elimination bracket will kick off with the first matches at the SPD Bank “Vostok” Sports Center on Thursday, August 20, and will conclude on Sunday, August 23, with the best-of-three grand final. Congratulations to everyone who has made it to this stage of the tournament, and we look forward to the final showdown. <...>

The International’s pre-show begins every day at 4:30 a.m. Moscow time. The official opening ceremony will take place at 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, and the first match will start shortly thereafter; on the remaining days of the tournament, matches begin at 5:00 a.m. <...>

Every day of the main event, fans will have a chance to attend an autograph session with teams and studio staff in the 2F lobby. Participants will be selected at random from among visitors who purchased tickets by 5:00 p.m. the previous day (local time). Selected fans will receive an email notification and will also see this information displayed on TV screens throughout the arena. You can find out the selection criteria and other details on-site.

By scanning your digital ticket upon your first entry into the stadium, attendees can receive their commemorative badges and goodie bags. Don’t forget to link your badge to your Steam account so that when you get the first blood in each game at The International, you’ll have a chance to earn the Treasure of the Crimson Witness.

Also, from August 20 to 23, the secret shop will be open at the SPD Bank “Vostok” Sports Center every day from 9:00 a.m. [Beijing Time—Ed.] until the first break between games in the last match of the day. Visitors can make a purchase on-site or place an order for pickup via the Perfect World app.

In addition to the SecretLab and SteelSeries booths, the lobby will feature players’ jerseys and championship rings from all previous years. Fans will also be able to leave their mark on the tournament’s history by signing one of the graffiti walls. And on Saturday and Sunday, you can take photos with cosplayers—and don’t forget to check out the hand-embroidered Aegis of Champions, which will be on display for visitors throughout the main event.

Don’t miss this year’s best Dota 2 cosplay—cosplayers will be in the arena on August 23, before the Grand Final begins.

The arena doors will open at 8:00 a.m. local time each day, two hours before the start of the first match. Please note that entry to the arena will be closed after 9:00 PM.

If your tickets are for the bleachers and boxes in Section 1F, please line up at the left (when facing the arena) entrance. If your tickets are for the stands and boxes in Section 3F, please line up at the right-hand entrance (as you face the arena). After passing through the turnstile at the ticket checkpoint, you can pick up your goodie bag.

All seats in the arena are assigned in advance. Please line up in the queue designated for entry to your section of the stadium. All ticket holders are permitted to exit the arena and re-enter up to THREE times per match day. When re-entering, please line up in the appropriate queue.