21 September 2026
Media preview WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
The world’s media got their first glimpse of WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 today on an exclusive tour guided by representatives of the WorldSkills Champions Trust.
Over 2,500 journalists representing more than 50 countries and regions had the opportunity to explore the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) today as part of an exclusive media tour before the 48th WorldSkills Competition begins.
Media play an essential part in raising awareness of skills and encouraging more people to value Technical and Vocational Education and Training. The high turnout reflects the scale of global interest in skills development and excellence as a way to build more secure, sustainable societies and economies.
The members of the press were taken on a tour of the NECC by youth ambassadors from the WorldSkills Champions Trust. As past WorldSkills Champions, they know what it feels like to compete at the highest level. During the tour, they shared their stories with the journalists as well as offering important context about WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.
Shweta Ratanpura, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Asia, who competed in Graphic Design Technology at WorldSkills Kazan 2019, said that walking journalists through the workshops brought back memories of her own journey to skills. She said, “One of the best things I get to do is tell the media about the impact of WorldSkills on me, personally.”
She continued, “I come from India, where students are often expected to choose careers in engineering or medicine. Competing at an event of this scale in Graphic Design Technology helped people back home recognize the skill, hard work and expertise my profession requires. Winning a medal at WorldSkills changed everything for me. It gave visibility and credibility to my chosen path and showed others that there are many ways to build a successful career. Having so many journalists here at the NECC is a great opportunity to share more of these stories and inspire young people to consider paths they may not have otherwise thought were possible.”
The tour took media through the sector villages and skill workshops where Competitors will soon compete, as well as highlights of the WorldSkills Expo, Try-a-Skill stands, and the WorldSkills Museum stand. The tour ended outside the WorldSkills Conference 2026 venue before returning to the media centre.
Shawna Bourke, Director of Marketing and Communications for WorldSkills International, reflected, “Journalists and content creators are powerful messengers for skills. Through their words, images, videos, and channels, from broadcast to social media, the media carries Competitor stories beyond the Competition floor and out to the world. They help the world see what determination looks like, and how finding your path through skills can be a source of purpose and inspiration for young people everywhere.”