The International 2026 used a format Dota fans will recognize: sixteen teams, a Swiss-system group stage where every match is a best-of-three, and a double-elimination main event.
In the group stage the top three teams advanced directly to the playoffs; teams placing 4th through 13th dropped into an elimination round for the remaining main-event slots, and the bottom three were eliminated. All playoff series were best-of-three except the grand final, a best-of-five.
The field mixed seven direct invites with nine qualified squads. Among the contenders that reached the eight-team main event, according to Valve's official main-event post, were Team Spirit, Team Liquid, Team Falcons, Aurora Gaming and others — with Team Spirit ultimately lifting the Aegis.
One roster note worth flagging for readers following team lineages: reporting on the event described Iron Wing as carrying the roster formerly competing as Tundra Esports. Team-name continuity across a season is a recurring source of confusion, and we track it on each team's page.