Participation in the upcoming second World Humanoid Robot Games is projected to increase fourfold compared to last year's inaugural tournament, organizers announced on Thursday.

Scheduled from August 22 to 26 in Beijing, the event has registered 666 teams and 2,056 robots spanning 16 countries, according to Jiang Guangzhi, director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology.

The international field includes competitors from prominent robotics leaders such as the United States, Germany, and Japan, alongside a Brazilian national roster formed by five RoboCup squads.

Host nation China will have a formidable presence, contributing 641 teams and 1,975 robots from 157 commercial enterprises and 200 academic and research entities, including major industry firms and 27 leading universities.

Organizers highlighted that the 2026 iteration will encompass more than 30 individual events. Newly introduced categories include weightlifting, table tennis, long jump, and tug of war, which are designed to rigorously test structural engineering, motion control, and core hardware components.

At the same time, scenario-focused challenges are expanding into functional, real-world operational environments, such as manufacturing plants, hotels, residential spaces, and logistics hubs.

Participating machines will face practical tests across diverse duties, including domestic housekeeping, emergency response management, industrial assembly, and sorting library books.

Reflecting on the event's broader industry impact, Jiang noted that many of the competition's governing guidelines are expected to evolve into technical standards, helping drive the transition of advanced robotics technologies into commercial industrial uses.

Source: Xinhua