Shanghai Hosts 48th WorldSkills Competition with 1,385 Competitors

The 48th WorldSkills Competition opened in Shanghai on September 22, 2026, bringing together 1,385 competitors from 68 countries and regions. Premier Li Qiang officially declared the competition open and later addressed the accompanying WorldSkills Conference 2026, where he advocated for increased international cooperation in skills development. President Xi Jinping also marked the occasion with a congratulatory letter read during the ceremony.

The event, often described as the Olympics of skills, features 64 categories across six sectors. This edition introduces seven new digital disciplines, including unmanned aerial systems and intelligent security technology. Most participants are aged 22 or younger. China is fielding 71 competitors across all events, while the Government of the Republic of China sent 53 competitors under the name Chinese Taipei to compete in 47 categories.

Parallel to the contests, which run through September 27, the city is hosting the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Expo and a conference focused on artificial intelligence and vocational education. The event highlights China's cooperation with the Global South, featuring an exhibition area for 10 African nations. To align with these technological shifts, the Government of China formally recognized 11 new occupations and 23 new specialties in September 2026 to reflect evolving labor demands.