Seeing is believing, as young visitors discover the magic of skills

Young visitors filled the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) this week for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. For many, this first glimpse of a career in skills is a chance to reimagine their future.

Tens of thousands of students are watching the Competitors in action, marvelling at their precision and passion. They are then walking through the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Expo to test their own talent at more than 400 booths and Try-a-Skill stands.

This integration between the Competition and the Expo encourages students to see a skill in action, then try it for themselves. They soon discover that what looks effortless takes years of training.

Try-a-Skill has been a favourite feature of many WorldSkills Competitions. This year there are 64 Try-a-Skill stands, one for every skill competition at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Experiences range from ancient grass weaving at Landscape Gardening to an AI skin analysis at Beauty Therapy.

One student from Burkina Faso tried out the Electrical Installations Try-a-Skill which teaches visitors about the relationship between current and voltage and lets them run their own circuit experiment. He said, “Everyone here has been really helpful and encouraging. It has been useful to test out this skill as it’s similar to my studies. I had a lot of fun and have things I can take away and try.”

WorldSkills Global Premium Partner Festo has been closely involved in designing the Try-a-Skill activities for Mechatronics, Industry 4.0, Water Technology, and Renewable Energy. Elfi Klumpp, Head of Partnership Development at Festo Didactic, fully supports any initiatives or experiences that can bring young people closer to skills.

She says, “WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 gives young people the chance to imagine their future. At Festo’s Try-a-Skill area, visitors can experience how technology, creativity, and practical skills come together to solve real-world challenges. We want every visitor to leave curious and thinking, ‘I could do this too’.”

The interactive experiences at the Expo do not stop there. Young visitors have also been seen zigzagging across the NECC to 80 check-in points as part of the Check-in Challenge. By scanning QR codes, they can unlock skill achievements and redeem points for official merchandise.

At the Next-Gen Makers Workshop, students go even deeper with hands-on, one-hour courses in a variety of skilled trades. They can also get career advice, watch live demonstrations, and visit a bazaar with more than 30 stalls that explore China’s cultural heritage, traditional crafts, and future technology.

Aapo Paunonen, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Europe, has been walking around the Competition halls, talking to young students. He says, “We are so lucky to get to see these magical ‘aha!’ moments, when someone realizes their new potential future for the first time. It fills me with hope about how these young people will use their skills to help us build a better world.”

In the week when WorldSkills Members approved Vision 2035, David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, reflects, “Our future depends on young people with the right skills to create a world that works for everyone. Clean energy, resilience to climate change, safe and healthy communities — these things all rely on the next generation of skilled talent. Lighting those sparks of inspiration is fundamental to what we do here.”

WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 takes place from 22 to 27 September 2026 in Shanghai, China. Download the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 app or the Event Handbook to make the most of your visit.