On the night of July 24, a significant update will be released for Dota 2. The release of the third chapter of the massive seasonal event, Dark Carnival, has been officially confirmed. At the same time, the community is anticipating the release of the Compendium for The International 2026, although the developers have not yet made any corresponding announcements.
As part of the third chapter of Dark Carnival, two new cars will become available to players: the Cauldron Car and the Engine Car. The update will bring new story quests and the continuation of the Ringmaster character's storyline. The event itself has become the game's largest event in 2026, borrowing the successful Crownfall concept with a progression map, minigames, comics, and a full-fledged story campaign.
For completing the new quests, players will be able to earn the following in-game rewards:
- Treasure of Wonders
- Candy Sacks
- Carnival Goodies
- Discount Coins
- Seeing Stones
Special attention is drawn to the likely release of the Compendium. Despite the lack of official confirmation from Valve, dataminers have already discovered corresponding references in the game files, along with new tokens, a Double Down system, and themed cosmetic items.
Even if the Compendium rumors are not confirmed today, the patch is guaranteed to expand the game with the continuation of the Dark Carnival campaign, making it one of the key updates ahead of The International 2026.
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