48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai to be the Largest Ever

The 48th WorldSkills Competition will take place in Shanghai from September 22 to 27. With more than 1,400 contestants from over 70 countries and regions competing in 64 skill categories, it will be the largest ever edition of the biennial event, officials told a State Council Information Office press conference today.

In total, more than 6,000 people have registered for the event, including competitors, coaches and event management staff, according to Yan Qinghui, China's vice minister of human resources and social security and deputy director of the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Organizing Committee.

As the most important skills competition in the world, WorldSkills always updates competition categories in line with industrial development. This year's event will feature seven new skills: unmanned aerial systems, digital interactive media design, rail vehicle technology, intelligent security technology, software testing, dental prosthetics and retail sales.

China will participate in all skill categories with 71 competitors.

During the competition, the WorldSkills Conference will gather more than 2,000 people, including leading figures from education, government, business, and industry worldwide, allowing for in-depth discussions on global trends, shaping a shared blueprint for how skills can transform the world, he added.

The WorldSkills Competition is not only a stage for competitors to showcase their honed skills, but also for the public to have a close look or try their hands at the skills, said Yang Jiaying, secretary-general of the Secretariat of the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Organizing Committee and director of the Shanghai Human Resources and Social Security Bureau.

To ensure a fun and memorable experience, many experiential booths will be set up at the competition venue. Various activities – from fun challenges to professional consultations, from traditional intangible heritage to future skills – will offer visitors an interactive, hands-on experience. Some examples include dismantling components of an equipment, 3D-printing your favorite works, or completing a beautiful flower arrangement, Yang explained.

There will also be a WorldSkills expo, where relevant international organizations, competition partners, and related associations from all over the world will have booths showcasing vocational skills development worldwide. The expo will allow visitors to intuitively understand the practical application of new skills in emerging industrial fields.

All the activities are open to the public for free. Reservations can be made in August through the competition's official website, WeChat mini-program and app.

The event will take place at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), lovingly known as the "four-leaf clover." The venue in suburban Qingpu District spans 360,000 square meters, roughly equivalent to 50 standard football pitches.

A smart navigation system is under development to ensure visitors easily locate competition areas and experience zones with one quick search via a mobile app.