One of global e-sports' most prestigious tournaments, Dota 2 The International 2026, wrapped up its thrilling four-day main-event battle on Sunday with Russia's Team Spirit crowned champions.
The premier Dota 2 multi-player online championship drew massive global fans to the city.
Dota has a history spanning more than two decades, with millions of players worldwide. That enduring global following is one reason the tournament has generated so much attention that tickets for the flagship competition sold out within five minutes of going on sale on June 10, attracting passionate supporters from 73 countries and regions.
"For me it's a dream and we have a beautiful opportunity go to China first one and the second one it's international for me. It's wow and it's unbelievable. I mean it's something incredible," said Andrei Butov, a Dota 2 fan.
"I've been playing Dota like for 10 years. I feel so excited. Thank you so much Shanghai for giving us the opportunity to come," said Sasha Naboka, another fan of Dota 2.
The tournament's global pull also attracted international esports influencers eager to experience the city firsthand.
"I want to just watch Disneyland and I want to do shopping, because it's Shanghai," said Nurseitova Dina, an esports key opinion leader (KOL).
Beyond intense in-game battles, the event blended esports and urban culture. A special orchestra performance was held in July, along with pop-up installations at Shanghai’s major shopping malls.
"Many of our players are young people and they want to learn about China and Shanghai. This tournament is a great opportunity to enrich their travel plans. They come to China not only to discover scenic spots, but their favorite competitions too and explore the local culture. This is a new lifestyle for the youth," said Sam Gu, CEO of Perfect World.
The massive success of the multi-player online battle championship significantly boosts Shanghai's bid to become a global hub for esports.
Shanghai has been working for years to establish itself as a global esports hub. In the first half of this year, the city hosted about a quarter of offline esports competitions held across China, while its number of esports clubs ranks first nationwide. The Dota 2 tournament is another opportunity for Shanghai to strengthen its position on the global esports stage.
Dota 2 International 2026 wraps up in Shanghai, drawing global fans
