Revealing the mastery behind the magic

Over the next week, 400,000 visitors to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 will marvel at the magic coming from every skill workshop across the halls of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC). Every point of precision and every flawless finish demonstrated by WorldSkills Competitors is the result of years spent perfecting their craft.

The audience cannot see the many long days and late nights that helped these young people reach the global stage for skills. So here we lift the lid on three skill competitions and share a little more about the training and determination behind the magic.

Jewellery

Visitors to the Jewellery skill competition will have a chance to admire the detailed craftsmanship of the Competitors and the exquisiteness of their finished pieces. But to reach this level of excellence, these young people will have spent countless hours learning how to mould and shape metal with precision to craft and repair jewellery.

Jyothi Forman, Chief Expert for Jewellery, explains, “The craft of jewellery requires an artist’s creative eye combined with ultimate precision and attention to detail. Competitors spend years training their hands to work flawlessly. Visitors should look for that perfectly set stone, that perfectly soldered join, the kind of detail that only comes from thousands of hours of practice.”

Cyber Security

Competitors will be given real-life scenarios that mirror the work of modern cyber-security teams. Among other tasks, Competitors will configure and secure networks and systems, analyze forensic evidence, contain incidents and restore services, all while applying industry security frameworks and best practices.

Dr George O’Mahony, Chief Expert for Cyber Security, shares, “This skill affects every aspect of modern society, from the services we use every day to the critical infrastructure on which communities and economies depend. The Competition will provide visitors with an insight into this critical field and see how our young people have been training to identify weaknesses, detect threats, investigate incidents, and implement secure and resilient systems.”

Dental Prosthetics

New to WorldSkills this year, Dental Prosthetics requires a knowledge of digital technology and craftsmanship to manufacture dental prosthetics such as crowns, bridges, dentures, and nightguards. WorldSkills Competitors may be asked about human anatomy, materials science, and dental technology. They will also need to show strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Emmitt Miller, Skill Competition Manager for Dental Prosthetics, explains, “Visitors will see how our Competitors have trained to use many technologies that can be seen in other skill competitions, such as CAD design, additive manufacturing, and CNC milling. Our skill should really be thought of as dental engineering!”

None of this happens by chance. The magic on show across all 64 skill competitions this week disguises the thousands of hours of intense training that all of the 1,400 Competitors will have gone through.

David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, encourages visitors to appreciate the hard work and determination behind the 48th WorldSkills Competition. He says, “What you will witness this week is something very special. Every young person competing here in Shanghai is already a Champion. They will have worked long hours, won local and national competitions, and put their heart and soul into their skills. By competing, their mastery sets the template for other young people to develop their skills and strive for excellence.”

Find out more about the skills at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, and learn what years of practice can achieve.