Forward of the nail-biting Grand Closing at The Worldwide 2025, Valve introduced that The Worldwide 2026 will return to Shanghai, China. And it’s excellent timing.
At TI14, followers witnessed the resurgence of Chinese language Dota, with Xtreme Gaming topping the extremely unpredictable Swiss Stage in a flawless run, and making all of it the best way to the Grand Closing earlier than shedding to Group Falcons in a nail-biting 3-2 slugfest. Are the glory days of Chinese language Dota upon us?
GabeN proclaims The Worldwide 2026 location
Up till now, The Worldwide 2019 (which ran from Aug. 15-25, 2019) was the one time the crowning occasion occurred in China, the place Dota 2 esports followers witnessed OG’s historic back-to-back wins on the Mercedes-Benz Area in Shanghai.
The President of Valve Company, Gabe Logan Newell (additionally recognized merely as GabeN by his adoring followers) began a short-but-sweet video by thanking Germany for making The Worldwide so successful, earlier than saying that: “All of us share our love of the sport with a global group, and I’m excited to announce that subsequent 12 months’s Worldwide may also be returning to a earlier location.”
At that time, the textual content “Shanghai” appeared, alongside August 2026 because the date. GabeN completed off the announcement by telling followers, “I hope to see you there,” because the display pale to black.
Picture Credit score: Valve
It’s as if Valve is revisiting Dota 2 esports’ biggest hits with acquainted areas. In spite of everything, this 12 months the occasion returned to Germany for the primary time for the reason that inaugural match in 2011.
The Worldwide 2026 would be the first time the crowning occasion takes place in August since The Worldwide 2019.
In case you’ve been trapped underneath some form of rock, presumably because of Tiny’s Avalanche ability and utterly missed it, you may meet up with the highlights of the nail-biting Grand Closing at The Worldwide 2025, the place Group Falcons clashed with Xtreme Gaming.
May a house crowd benefit be sufficient for a Chinese language staff to carry the Aegis of Champions? Whereas it wasn’t sufficient to get PSG.LGD fell brief at The Worldwide 2019, the place the ultimate Chinese language hope was eradicated in third place. The Worldwide 2026 may show to be a distinct story.


