The 48th WorldSkills Competition will be held in Shanghai this September, bringing together young professionals from around the world to showcase a wide range of vocational skills.

Held biennially, the WorldSkills Competition is regarded as the world's largest and most influential vocational skills competition and as the gold standard for skills excellence.

When and where will it take place?

WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 will run from Sept 22 to 27. The competition will take place over four days, from Sept 23 to 26, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), while the opening and closing ceremonies will take place on Sept 22 and 27, respectively, at the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Center.

The event will use 360,000 square meters of venue space at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), roughly equivalent to 50 standard soccer fields.

Admission to all skill competition viewing areas and all hands-on activities will be free. Online visitor registration will open in August 2026.

What skills will be featured?

The competition covers a wide range of professional skills divided into six major categories:

• Manufacturing and Engineering Technology
• Information and Communication Technology
• Construction and Building Technology
• Transportation and Logistics
• Creative Arts and Fashion
• Social and Personal Services

The 48th WorldSkills Competition will feature 64 skills, including seven new skills:

• Software Testing
• Intelligent Security Technology
• Rail Vehicle Technology
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Digital Interactive Media Design
• Dental Prosthetics
• Retail Sales

The competition focuses primarily on practical work and generally does not include theoretical exams. Competitors instead complete hands-on tasks.

Competitors will complete around six hours of practical work each day, demonstrating their skills under real competition conditions.

Who will take part?

The WorldSkills Competition is primarily for young skilled professionals. Under WorldSkills rules, competitors in most skills must not turn 23 in the calendar year of the competition. For certain skills, competitors must not turn 26 in that year.

Each WorldSkills Member is allowed to enter either one individual competitor or one team for each skill, based on the specific requirements of that skill. As a rule, a competitor may compete in only one official skill at one WorldSkills Competition and may not compete again at a later WorldSkills Competition.

The 48th WorldSkills Competition is expected to draw more than 1,400 competitors from over 70 countries and regions.

More than a competition: Exhibitions and global discussions

Beyond the skill competitions, WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 will feature an expo and an international conference exploring skills development, career pathways, and the future of vocational education and training.

WorldSkills Expo

The WorldSkills Expo will be held from Sept 23 to 26 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). Covering nearly 50,000 sq m, it will feature interactive activities such as "Try-a-Skill" experience stations and skills workshops for young people.

Through multimedia displays, AI agents, physical models, and illustrated information panels, the expo will showcase a range of skills and how technology is reshaping the world of work. Tailored visitor routes will be available for professional audiences and young learners.

WorldSkills Conference 2026

The WorldSkills Conference 2026 will take place from Sept 23 to 25 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), alongside the competition and expo.

The conference will convene policymakers, government officials, industry leaders, educators, and young people from around the world to discuss key topics in technical and vocational education and training.

Through international dialogue and cooperation, it aims to support global skills development.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security, WorldSkills International