Valve has published a new blog dedicated to the main event of the year in the world of Dota 2 — The International 2025, which will take place in Hamburg, Germany. In the post, the company shared details about the tournament format, schedule, tickets, broadcasts, and other activities for fans.

Road to The International
The journey to TI-2025 will begin on September 4 with the playoff stage of Road to The International. Sixteen teams will compete in a Swiss system format (best-of-3). Four wins will secure a spot at The International, while a fourth loss will mean elimination.

After five rounds, three teams will advance directly to TI, and three will be eliminated. The remaining ten teams will compete for the last five tickets in an additional round. The first part of the competition will last until September 7, with all matches on the final day being elimination matches.

The International
The International 2025 itself will kick off on September 11 at the Barclays Arena in Hamburg and conclude with the grand final on September 14. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are already sold out, but seats for the first two game days are still available through the AXS service. Additionally, all teams that qualify for TI will have autograph fan sessions during the first days of the tournament.

Broadcasts
Valve has confirmed that TI-2025 matches will be broadcast in English, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese on twitch , YouTube, Facebook, and Steam. Moreover, several licenses have been issued for local broadcasts for fans in various countries, including Ukrainian, Thai, Vietnamese, Portuguese, and other languages.

Secret Shop and Partners
New merchandise from WeAreNations and Perfect World is already available through official online stores for the tournament. Partner Secretlab will once again provide players with their signature TITAN Evo chairs and MAGNUS Pro desks at all stages of the championship.

Short Film Contest
Valve also reminded that voting for the finalists of the Short Film Contest is ongoing in the Dota 2 client. The top ten works, chosen by the community, will be showcased during The International, where the winners will be announced.

Valve promises to reveal more details soon about badges, treasures, and other activities at the tournament venue.