The International 2026 Grand Final went all the way to a decisive Game 5 in Shanghai, delivering the kind of high-stakes drama that has made TI the most celebrated event in competitive Dota 2. The best-of-five series, held on August 23 at the SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center, saw the Juggernaut hero deployed in the final game, a pick that carried enormous weight given the circumstances.
TI’s 15th anniversary edition had been building toward this moment across nearly two weeks of competition, running from August 13 through August 23.
The road to Shanghai
TI 2026 featured its traditional double-elimination playoff format, a structure that has been part of the tournament since its earliest days. The playoffs ran from August 20 through August 23 in Shanghai, whittling down the field to the final two teams standing.
Team Vision, a newer Serbian organization, and Team Spirit, the well-established powerhouse, earned their spots in the Grand Final.
