Valve isn’t wasting time this year, announcing The International 2025’s dates, location, and playoffs venue very early. That’s right, Dota 2 esports fans, you can mark your calendars for 11 to 14 September 2025, when the massive, record-breaking annual event returns to Germany!
It’s been 14 years since the first The International took place, also in Germany, in front of a crowd when NAVI won, and the event broke the prize pool record. Since then, we’ve seen insane events throughout the years, with mammoth prize pools (partly crowdfunded by the sale of battle passes and related purchases).
For The International 2025, the main event will take place in Hamburg, Germany, at the beautiful Barclays Arena venue!
Banners, tattered but resolute, are unfurled. War trumpets, battered but resolute, are buffed with war trumpet polish until they gleam. Weapons, resolute but dull, are sharpened on whetstones in rhythmic strokes, until they are perhaps too sharp, and dulled up a little on nearby flagstones so no one cuts themselves. The banners (tattered, resolute and unfurled, see earlier) are hoisted high, their sigils stitched with sequins of the most defiant bedazzlement.
Sound legit, right? I sure think it does, but who will we see competing?
Who Are TI2025’s Teams?
No teams for The International 2025 have been announced at the time of writing. That’s because it’s only January, way too soon for direct invites to be determined or for open and regional qualifiers to take place.
In the announcement, Valve specifically mentioned there would be 16 teams competing, earning spots via the methods I’ve listed above.
We will, of course, cover everything from The International 2025 for esports fans, and I will personally make sure you get the best quality possible!
