More than 2,000 humanoid robots are set to compete in Beijing as China hosts the second World Humanoid Robot Games.
The event will run from August 22 to 26. It will bring together 666 teams and 2,056 robots from 16 countries.
This marks a major increase from the first edition in 2025. That event featured 280 teams and more than 500 humanoid robots.
International teams will travel from countries including the United States, Germany and Japan. Brazil will also send five RoboCup teams.
China, however, will have the largest presence. A total of 641 Chinese teams will compete with 1,975 robots. The participants include technology companies, universities and research institutions.
Robots to compete in sports events
Organizers have expanded the program to include more than 30 competitions.
Robots will take part in running, football and other athletic events. This year, organizers have also added long jump, weightlifting, tug-of-war and table tennis.
These competitions will test several key abilities. For example, robots will need to show balance, strength, movement control and coordination.
As a result, developers will be able to study how their machines perform under pressure.
Real-world tasks also included
The games will not focus only on sports.
Humanoid robots will also complete practical tasks based on real-life environments. These will include factories, hotels, homes and logistics centers.
Robots may be asked to assemble items, clean rooms, respond to emergencies and sort books.
Therefore, the event gives developers a chance to test robots outside traditional laboratory settings.
Beijing officials also hope the competition will help create technical standards for commercial robots. In the future, these standards could support the use of humanoid machines in manufacturing, services and other industries.
China expands humanoid robot industry
The event comes as China’s humanoid robotics industry continues to grow rapidly.
Chinese officials expect domestic production to exceed 100,000 humanoid robots this year. In addition, Chinese manufacturers accounted for more than 97 percent of global humanoid robot shipments in the first half of 2026, according to market research cited by Anadolu Agency.
With participation rising sharply in just one year, the Beijing games are becoming more than a technology showcase. They are also becoming an important testing ground for the next generation of humanoid robots.
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