The International 2026: Predictions and Rewards

The International 2026 is just a couple of weeks away and, along with Patch 7.41e, Valve also released the tournament's menu, where you can make your predictions for the Group Stage and check this year's rewards.

Let's take a quick look at each section of The International menu inside the Dota 2 client and talk a bit about what to expect and which are the important dates to remember before the tournament begins.

The International 2026 Rewards

The first section inside the "Compendium" is the rewards panel, where you can get TI 2026-themed emoticons, wallpapers, and a list of the available rewards if you make good predictions.

Reward List

Everyone will get 300 Dota Plus Shards for every 1,000 points earned through predictions, but the top performers will also get increasingly interesting rewards:

• 1 free month of Dota Plus if you're in the 85th percentile.
• 1 free month of Dota Plus and a Terrain Token if you're in the 90th percentile.
• 2 free months of Dota Plus, a Terrain Token, 50% off the physical Aegis replica, and 1 Tyrian Regalia if you're in the 95th percentile.
• 6 free months of Dota Plus, a Terrain Token, a free physical Aegis replica, and 2 Tyrian Regalia if you're in the Top 1,500 predictions.
• 1 free year of Dota Plus, a Terrain Token, a free physical Aegis replica, and all Tyrian Regalia items if you're in the Top 100 predictions.

Tournament Predictions

Predictions are divided into two parts. First, we have Dota 2 Fantasy, where you can choose duos for cores and supports, along with a midlaner according to their teams, and then use Roll Tokens to juice your choices as much as possible to earn more points.

The second part is the same as last year. You will try to guess which teams will get past the Group Stage with no losses, one loss, which ones survive the elimination round, which ones get eliminated in the elimination round, which ones finish with just one win, and which team goes completely winless.

These points might be the difference between getting a Tyrian Regalia or not. I made an almost perfect Playoff prediction last year but fell below the 90th percentile because I slacked off and did not reroll my Fantasy picks for the Playoffs, so be mindful of the scheduled prediction locks.

The Swiss Stage predictions need to be filled out before Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 3:00 PM GMT. After the Swiss Stage locks, remember to also make your Playoff predictions before they lock as well.

Team and Talent Bundles

Finally, we also get Team and Talent Bundles as an option to give back to everyone for a year of hard work making the Dota 2 professional circuit as entertaining as it has always been.

This time, we got not only sounds but also custom wallpapers and loading screens that make each Team Bundle even more unique, but it's hard to say they are as good as the good old days when we had our beloved "hats."

Closing Thoughts

The pre-International season has officially begun and is gaining momentum, along with the Dark Carnival, to bring the Dota 2 community together once again to witness The International 2026.

While we wonder if GabeN will show up to welcome us to The International and if China will be able to lift another Aegis, take a look at our full coverage in the news section of the Strafe website!

READ MORE: Summer Scrub: Dota Plus and Quality of Life Updates

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