The TI 2026 schedule runs from 13 to 23 August 2026 in Shanghai. The Swiss group stage fills 13 to 16 August, a break covers 17 to 19 August, and the single-elimination playoffs take 20 to 23 August. Exact daily start times are not yet announced.
The full TI 2026 schedule, block by block
Everything you need to plan your viewing fits into one window. The TI 2026 schedule opens with four days of Swiss group play, pauses for three quiet days, then closes with four days of bracket elimination. That rhythm of grind, breather and sprint is the same shape Valve has used for recent editions, and it gives Filipino fans a clear map of which days demand a full evening and which days they can skip.
The official daily match list is the one thing still missing. Valve typically publishes exact start times and the day-one matchups only once the broadcast plan is locked, so this page will fill those in as they appear. Until then, plan around the stage dates rather than specific kick-off hours, and use our standings and bracket tracker to see how each day reshapes the table.
Group stage in the The International 2026 schedule
The opening leg of The International 2026 schedule is the Swiss group stage, 13 to 16 August. Every side plays a series of best-of-three matchups and is paired against teams on the same win-loss record, so a 2-0 start earns a tougher draw and an 0-2 start earns an easier one. The reward for clearing the Swiss leg is a playoff seed; the penalty for stumbling is an early exit and no Aegis run.
| Stage | Dates (2026) | Format | What it decides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage (Swiss) | 13–16 August | Best-of-three, Swiss pairings | Playoff seeding and early eliminations |
| Break | 17–19 August | No official play listed | Rest and travel days |
| Main event (playoffs) | 20–23 August | Single elimination | The Aegis of Champions |
For a Filipino audience the group days are where the SEA qualifier team either makes a statement or fights to survive. Because Shanghai shares the Philippine clock, these best-of-three sessions land in the afternoon and evening here rather than overnight. Returning viewers will recognise the structure from past years and can pace their week accordingly.
Playoffs, breaks and the Dota 2 TI schedule shape
The back half of the Dota 2 TI schedule is the single-elimination bracket from 20 to 23 August, where every series is win-or-go-home and the grand final closes the event on the last day. Between the group stage and the playoffs sits the 17-to-19 August break, which is not a broadcast gap to ignore so much as the calm before the loudest weekend in Dota. Plan your big-screen sessions for that final stretch.
People searching the Dota 2 TI 2026 schedule usually want two answers: which days are live, and how late the finals run locally. The live days are the seven across the two stages, and because the broadcast clock equals Manila time, even the closing sessions sit inside a normal evening here. That convenience is a recurring theme on our main event briefing and is one reason the Shanghai edition suits the region so well.
So when is TI 2026, in one line?
If you only remember one TI 2026 date, make it the bookend pair: the event begins on 13 August 2026 and ends on 23 August 2026. The headline The International 2026 date that most people mean, though, is the grand final on 23 August, the day the Aegis is decided. Knowing both lets you block out the whole run while still circling the single session that matters most.
- Group stage opens: 13 August 2026
- Group stage ends: 16 August 2026
- Playoffs open: 20 August 2026
- Grand final: 23 August 2026
- Daily start times: not yet announced by Valve
Treat this list as the skeleton and let the rest fill in. As soon as the broadcast schedule, the day-one pairings and any opening-ceremony detail are official, they will join this page. For now the dates are firm, the times are pending, and the qualifier outcomes that set the day-one matchups are still being settled on the regional qualifiers page.