Shanghai at TI2026: hero statues and the Secret Shop
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The International 2026 in Shanghai was more than just the stage and the broadcast: Valve placed Dota 2 hero statues around the city, opened a temporary Secret Shop, and sold out tickets for every main stage day. Valve’s official post on dota2.com laid out exactly what the offline side of the tournament looked like — from shopping malls across Shanghai to the SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center arena.
When and where the offline stage happened
The group stage of The International 2026 ran from August 13 to 16: 16 teams played under a Swiss system, meaning opponents were matched by current win-loss record rather than a fixed bracket of groups. On Thursday, August 20, the tournament moved to the main arena — the SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai — where the grand final was played on August 23.
The venue held more than 10,000 spectators, and tickets for the main stage days sold out completely. For fans who couldn’t get a seat, Valve built an alternative: offline activities spread across the city itself, open to anyone.
Hero statues across Shanghai’s shopping malls
Ahead of the group stage, themed Dota 2 hero statues went up around the city as part of the tournament’s promotional campaign. Locations and display windows varied:
| Location | Heroes / object | Display dates |
|---|---|---|
| Wujiaochang Guangchang | Aegis of Champions | through August 18 |
| Bailian ZX Fun Mall | Queen of Pain, Axe, Pudge | through August 18 |
| Shanghai Wujiaochang Wanda Plaza | Juggernaut | through August 18 |
| Lujiazui Super Brand Mall | Windranger | August 12–18 |
| Shanghai EXPO Culture Park | Mars, Shadow Fiend | August 13–18 |
| Taikoo Li Qiantan | Aegis of Champions, Drow Ranger, Crystal Maiden, Juggernaut | August 18–24 |
Beyond the statues themselves, several retail spots — Lujiazui 96 Plaza, New Bund 31, Shanghai No. 1 Shopping Center, and Expo Place — ran simple check-in stations, where fans could stop by and pick up freebies without hunting down a specific statue.
Secret Shop: a temporary store right at the arena
At the SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center itself, a branded pop-up Secret Shop ran from August 20 to 23 — the same kind of fan store Valve traditionally sets up at its biggest tournaments. It opened every morning at nine and closed shortly after the first break of the day’s last match.
Fans could buy merch two ways: walk up to the on-site counter directly, or place a pickup order through the Perfect World app, Valve’s partner for running the tournament in China.
Merch online: Tmall and AliExpress
For anyone who didn’t make it to TI2026 in Shanghai, Valve left an online option. Official merch was sold through two marketplaces at once: a dedicated store on Tmall for buyers in mainland China, and a separate store on AliExpress for everyone else. The split makes sense — shipping and payment within China work differently from international orders, so Valve didn’t try to fold everything into one storefront.
What this means for players outside China
Even if you never plan to attend TI in person, the offline side of the tournament is a decent proxy for how large an audience Dota 2 still draws in China: an arena sold out past 10,000 seats and a network of statues spread across several districts speak for themselves.
If the hero statues made you curious about the game itself, start with our guide to Dota 2 heroes for beginners. And if you’re wondering exactly who won the tournament and how the prize pool was calculated, we covered that separately in The International 2026 results.
The Secret Shop merch is, at the end of the day, the same kind of paid cosmetic bundle sold inside the game itself. For a rundown of how those purchases actually work, see our guide to Dota 2 DLC and purchases.
FAQ
When did the offline stage of The International 2026 take place in Shanghai? The group stage ran from August 13 to 16. The main stage and grand final ran from August 20 to 23.
How many spectators could the TI2026 arena hold? More than 10,000, and tickets for the main stage days sold out completely.
Where were the Dota 2 hero statues placed in Shanghai? Across several shopping malls and public spaces in the city, each with its own display window.
What was the Secret Shop at TI2026? A temporary Dota 2 merch shop at the arena that ran from August 20 to 23.
Could you buy TI2026 merch online? Yes, through Tmall for buyers in mainland China and through AliExpress for the rest of the world.
Who won The International 2026? Team Spirit — read more about the tournament results in a separate piece.
The takeaway
The International 2026’s offline stage in Shanghai meant Dota 2 hero statues across several city districts from August 12 to 24, an SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center arena sold out past 10,000 seats on August 20–23, and a temporary Secret Shop right at the venue. Merch was available even without a trip to China, through either Tmall or AliExpress.
Frequently asked questions
When did the offline stage of The International 2026 take place in Shanghai?
The group stage ran from August 13 to 16. The main stage and grand final at the SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center ran from August 20 to 23.
How many spectators could the TI2026 arena hold?
More than 10,000. Tickets for the main stage days sold out completely.
Where were the Dota 2 hero statues placed in Shanghai?
Across several shopping malls and public spaces: Wujiaochang Guangchang, Bailian ZX Fun Mall, Lujiazui Super Brand Mall, Shanghai EXPO Culture Park, Taikoo Li Qiantan — each with its own display window.
What was the Secret Shop at TI2026?
A temporary Dota 2 merch shop that ran at the arena from August 20 to 23. Fans could buy at the on-site counter or order pickup through the Perfect World app.
Could you buy TI2026 merch without traveling to Shanghai?
Yes. Two online stores ran in parallel: Tmall for buyers in mainland China, and AliExpress for the rest of the world.
Who won The International 2026?
Team Spirit. A full breakdown of the tournament format and prize pool is covered in a separate piece on the TI2026 results.