The International 2025, the only Dota 2 tournament that’s organized by Valve, is returning to Germany in September after 14 years.
Valve, the developers of the MOBA, didn’t say much about the tournament other than the dates, which are September 11 through September 14. It will feature 16 teams that can qualify through various routes, like open qualifiers, regional qualifiers, and direct invitations.
The International 25 will be held at Hamburg’s Barclays Arena. Tickets will be available later, along with a more precise schedule.
The last time The International was held in Germany was its debut back in 2011 at Gamescom in Cologne. Last year, The International returned to Denmark, which was the first time it had been back to Europe since it started.
While The International is the only tournament organized by Valve, it’s not the only Dota 2 tournament out there. There are five ongoing tournaments right now:
- European Pro League Season 23
- EPL World Series: Southeast Asia Season 2
- AsiaPro League Season 2
- CCT Series 6
- UPEA National League 2025
There are also a plethora of upcoming tournaments that will be held before The International 2025. Many of these are Tier 1 tournaments, meaning they’ll feature the top teams around the world.
Despite its age, Dota 2 has a prominent esports scene. It was nominated for Best Esports Game at The Game Awards 2024 (along with Team Liquid getting nominated for Best Esports Team). It’s also going to be a part of the 2025 Esports World Cup.
