Organizers of the World Humanoid Robot Games have launched an international recruitment drive for their 2026 Beijing event, building on last year's groundbreaking competition that drew participants from 16 countries. The announcement comes as China solidifies its position as a global hub for robotics innovation.
The second edition of the games, scheduled for late 2026, promises expanded categories following the success of last August's debut featuring 26 events. Historic moments from the inaugural competition included the world's first humanoid robot 100-meter dash and a fully autonomous 5v5 football match that drew over 50,000 spectators.
"We're enhancing technical standards and competition formats to push the boundaries of AI integration," said event coordinator Dr. Li Wei during Thursday's press briefing. The 2025 games attracted major tech firms including Boston Dynamics and Germany's Franka Emika, with Chinese teams securing 40% of medals.
New for 2026 will be disaster response simulations and service robotics challenges, reflecting growing commercial applications. Registration opens March 1 for what organizers project will be 400+ teams competing across 35 events.
