WorldSkills 2026 opens in Shanghai with record participation

The 48th WorldSkills Competition has officially opened in Shanghai, China, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center. The event features 1,385 competitors from 68 countries and regions participating in 64 different skill disciplines across six major sectors, including manufacturing, engineering, and information technology.

The opening ceremony highlighted the intersection of technology and art, featuring a synchronized dance performance between human dancers and humanoid robots utilizing autonomous swarm control technology. The competition includes record-breaking numbers of participants and new categories such as drone systems, digital interactive media design, and software testing, reflecting trends in the digital and intelligent manufacturing economies.

Alongside the competitions, the event hosts the WorldSkills Conference 2026 and the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Expo. The conference brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and educators to discuss the future of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the face of rapid technological shifts like artificial intelligence. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang have both issued messages of support for the participants, emphasizing the importance of skilled labor in driving industrial transformation.