The momentum for Dota 2’s crown jewel is building faster than expected. Just 16 days after the crowdfunding campaign kicked off, The International 2026 has officially blown past the $3,000,000 mark in total prize money.

While the benchmark is still a far cry from the blockbuster pools of the early 2020s, this year’s pace is turning heads. Remarkably, the current pot has already eclipsed the final prize pools of five previous TI editions, including the first three tournaments that put Dota on the esports map.

Here is how the 2026 pool stacks up against the historical totals it has already left in the dust:

  • The International 2011 – $1.6M

  • The International 2012 – $1.6M

  • The International 2013 – $2.87M

  • The International 2024 – $2.77M

  • The International 2025 – $2.88M

As per tradition, Valve seeded the event with a baseline of $1.6 million. The rest of the exponential growth comes directly from the community, with 30% of all in-game sales (including the recently released team, caster, and player bundles) flowing straight into the main pot.

With the playoff stage still looming large on the horizon, the final number is expected to climb significantly higher before the Aegis is raised.

The main event is currently running its LAN course in Shanghai, China, and will continue to deliver high-octane action through August 23. Stay tuned to our live coverage for real-time updates on every team’s journey.