The International 2026 will bring 20 Russian players to the arenas in Shanghai — the largest Russian contingent in the event's history. It edges past the 2023 count. In total, athletes from the Russian Federation appear on 8 of the 16 rosters (8/16 — basically half the field), which has fans debating depth, roster strategies, and national trends.
The tournament runs Aug 13–23, with a base prize pool of $1.6M. The final stage — held at the East Sports Center — covers the last 4 days, when the top teams clash for the title; expect loud moments, tense pauses, and plays that get people talking (e.g., clutch calls, controversial replays).