Valve Confirms Major Dates and Host Cities for the New DPC Season

The Dota 2 Pro Circuit has finally pulled back the curtain on its upcoming Major calendar, and the season will be built around three global LAN events. According to the schedule, the first Major will take place in Kuala Lumpur from November 10 to 23, bringing top-tier Dota back to Southeast Asia after a long gap. The second Major is set for Berlin from February 16 to 28, while the third and final Major of the regular season will head to Rio de Janeiro from May 18 to 30. After that, the top teams will turn their attention to The International, with the exact dates and venue expected to be confirmed following the final Major. The DPC revealed the schedule through an official blog post and a short broadcast featuring tournament organizers, regional partners, and several professional players.

This structure gives each region a clear target. Southeast Asia, Western Europe, South America, China, Eastern Europe, and North America will all have representation, though the number of slots will depend on performances at previous events. The DPC said the selection of host cities was based on audience demand, venue availability, and the need to rotate Majors across different time zones. Kuala Lumpur offers a passionate fan base and a strong local scene, Berlin provides central European access and world-class infrastructure, and Rio de Janeiro adds a South American flavor that has been missing from recent Major rotations. The schedule also includes a two-week break between each Major to allow teams to rest, bootcamp, and adjust to balance patches. Each Major will feature sixteen teams, a group stage, and a double-elimination playoff bracket, with the grand final played in front of a live audience. For fans, the announcement means travel plans can finally be made, while for players, it creates a fixed competitive rhythm that rewards consistency rather than last-minute qualifier runs.

Regional Qualifiers and Open Qualifier Pathways Explained

The DPC's new schedule does not just reveal LAN dates; it also lays out a complete qualification pathway from open qualifiers to regional leagues and closed qualifiers. The process begins with open qualifiers in each of the six regions, giving amateur and semi-pro stacks a chance to earn a spot in the regional league. These open qualifiers will be held two months before each Major, with separate registration windows for North America, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, China, and Southeast Asia. Teams that survive the open bracket will join the regional league, where they will face established organizations and DPC points holders. The top teams from each regional league will then advance to the closed qualifier for the Major, while the bottom teams risk relegation. The DPC has also introduced a new "last chance" qualifier for teams that narrowly miss direct qualification, giving them one final opportunity to secure a Major slot.

This layered system is designed to balance stability and opportunity: top teams can plan their season, but new rosters can still break through with a strong run. The schedule includes specific dates for roster locks, meaning teams cannot change players after a certain point without losing points. For fans, the qualifiers will be streamed on official DPC channels, with community casters allowed to cover open qualifiers. The DPC said the goal is to make the road to the Majors more transparent and to reduce the confusion that often surrounded last-minute qualifier changes in previous seasons. With the schedule now public, teams can schedule bootcamps and practice blocks around the qualifier windows. The first open qualifier window is expected in September, followed by January and April, giving every region multiple chances to produce a Cinderella story.

Points, Prize Pools, and TI Qualification Stakes

The upcoming Majors will carry significant DPC points and prize pools, making them essential stops on the road to The International. Each Major will offer a base prize pool of $1,000,000, with additional crowdfunding contributions from in-game battle pass and compendium sales. The DPC points distribution will follow a weighted system: first place earns 500 points, second place 450, third place 400, and so on, down to the top eight. Teams that consistently place high across all three Majors will build a strong lead in the race for direct TI invites. The schedule also confirms that regional league points will count toward Major qualification, but only Major points will determine TI invites. This distinction is important because it means regional dominance alone is not enough; teams must perform on LAN against international opposition.

The DPC has also increased the minimum prize for last place at each Major to ensure that qualified teams can cover travel and accommodation costs. For organizations, the financial stakes are high: a strong Major run can secure sponsorship deals, player salaries, and long-term stability. For players, the points race adds pressure to every series, especially in the group stage where a single loss can affect seeding. The DPC said it will publish a live points table after each Major, allowing fans to track which teams are close to locking in their TI invitations. Tiebreakers will be based on head-to-head results, then map score, then total wins across the season. With three Majors and a final Major before TI, the margin for error is small. The schedule is therefore not just a calendar; it is a roadmap to the biggest tournament in Dota 2.

What the Major Schedule Means for Teams, Fans, and the Meta

The release of the DPC Major schedule has immediate implications for teams, fans, and the game's competitive meta. For teams, the fixed dates allow for more structured practice, but they also create difficult choices about which events to attend and how to manage player fatigue. The gap between the second and third Majors, for example, overlaps with several third-party tournaments, forcing organizations to decide whether to prioritize DPC points or prize money. For fans, the schedule offers a steady stream of high-stakes Dota from November through May, with each Major in a different region. The return of a South American Major is particularly significant, as it gives local fans a rare chance to see top teams live and inspires the next generation of players.

The schedule may also influence the meta: because each Major is separated by a balance patch, teams will need to adapt quickly, and the winners will likely be those with the deepest hero pools and coaching staff. The DPC has promised to communicate any changes to the schedule at least one month in advance, learning from past criticism about late adjustments. Finally, the schedule sets up a dramatic race to The International, where every Major result will matter. With three Majors, open qualifiers, and regional leagues, the upcoming season promises to be one of the most competitive and unpredictable in Dota 2 history. Fans should mark their calendars now, because the road to the next Major begins sooner than expected.