Get ready for magic at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

Across Shanghai, the world is gathering in the “magic city” where, for the next week, the magic of skills will be brought to life.

Volunteers at airport arrivals have been greeting Competitors, Experts, delegates, and supporters with the welcome “Hello WorldSkills! Hello Shanghai!”. The National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) is ready for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 and WorldSkills Conference 2026. Posters and banners have gone up all over the city and, at the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Center, rehearsals are underway for the stunning Opening Ceremony.

As the anticipation builds for the 48th WorldSkills Competition, representatives of the WorldSkills Champions Trust can be spotted roving around Shanghai, fulfilling their role as official Dream Ambassadors.

Diego Andrés Lopez Garro, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Americas, said, “It’s like something magic to see all the buildings with branding of WorldSkills Shanghai, everywhere throughout the city. We feel very welcome from the city.”

Of course, none of this would be possible without the 2,500 volunteers working behind the scenes. Volunteers play a prominent role in every aspect of the Competition, from guiding delegations through the NECC to interpreting for visiting media and Competitors. For many of them, this is not their first Competition, and they have been loyal supporters of skills excellence for many years.

Katariina Kivi, a WorldSkills volunteer from Finland, shared her feelings about being in China, saying, “It is a truly unique experience to be part of something so big and so meaningful. This event combines cultures from around the world and puts all the skills under one roof. As we say, some call it magic, we call it skills!”

David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, expressed his gratitude, saying, “This is the moment that all the hard work and preparation pays off, for the Competitors and Experts, and for all the incredible people who work together to make an event like this possible. I am so grateful to everyone involved. Your passion and commitment to skills will make this a truly memorable event.”

Find out how to plan your own visit to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, and follow along as the magic begins.