Anticipation builds for the 48th WorldSkills Competition

After a successful Competition Preparation Week in February, anticipation is growing for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. In four months, visitors from across the globe will arrive in Shanghai to watch the very best young people step onto the global stage for skills.

China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS), WorldSkills China, and the city of Shanghai have selected two exceptional venues to host the event, reflecting the same high standards and levels of excellence on display in every skill workshop.

The 48th WorldSkills Competition and WorldSkills Conference 2026 will be held within the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) Shanghai. Located to the west of the city, the venue regularly hosts some of the most significant global expos and trade shows. Its distinctive four-leaf clover layout connects 16 halls, a central plaza, and conference rooms with transport links and a hotel.

WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 will use twelve of its halls:

• Eight halls will host 64 skill competition workshops and Try-a-Skill stands, to both celebrate skills excellence and inspire the next generation to consider skilled professions.
• One will be dedicated to the WorldSkills Conference 2026, where the world’s leaders and thinkers in TVET will meet to shape the skills systems of the future.
• One will include the WorldSkills Expo, where WorldSkills Sponsors, Partners, and Members will showcase their products, projects, and initiatives.
• The remaining two will be for the delegate restaurant, volunteer centre, media centre, and WorldSkills International and WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 operational activities.

Across the city, the Mercedes-Benz Arena (formerly the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Center) will host the spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Situated on the banks of the Huangpu River, it has welcomed artists including Taylor Swift, Jay Chou, and Lady Gaga, productions such as Cirque du Soleil, and events including the NBA Global Games.

The centre seats around 18,000 people and combines striking architectural design with a versatile performance space. The WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Organizing Committee have impressive plans for both ceremonies, making full use of the venue’s stage technology and immersive audiovisual systems.

More than world-class venues, these are platforms for demonstrating how the future depends on skilled young people. Across the event halls, visitors will see firsthand the exceptional skill of the young Competitors, and they will also learn how technical excellence underpins sustainable industries, resilient infrastructure, and inclusive economic growth. Anyone coming to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 is not just witnessing a competition, but a live demonstration of how skilled professionals are solving real-world challenges and building stronger communities worldwide.

David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, emphasizes that while the scale of the NECC sets a remarkable benchmark, the future of WorldSkills Competitions is not defined by size alone.

He explains, “Shanghai demonstrates what is possible in a world-leading venue, but our goal is not simply to be bigger each time. Future Competitions will be right-sized to reflect the Host country or region’s context, including its facilities, national priorities, and ambitions for engaging local audiences. This flexibility means we can scale up or down, while maintaining the same global standards of excellence.”

He concludes, “Ultimately, it is not about the size of the venue. It is about the impact we create and ensuring we remain accessible to more Members, attractive to more partners, and that together we continue to grow a global skills movement.”

Discover more about the journey to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.