China Forms 220-Member Delegation for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
China has officially established its national delegation for the 48th WorldSkills Competition, set to take place in Shanghai from September 22-27, according to Xinhua News. The 220-member delegation, approved by China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, includes 71 competitors who will participate in all 64 competition events—marking China’s eighth appearance at the biennial competition and its third time entering every skill category.
The competitors, drawn from 21 provincial-level regions across China, include 49 students and 22 employees. With an average age of 21, the team ranges from the youngest competitor at 18 to the oldest at 25. Among them are 58 male and 13 female competitors, including four from Shenzhen who will represent China in four WorldSkills events, as reported by Dute News.
A Global Showcase of Skills
The WorldSkills Competition is the world’s largest international skills competition, bringing together young people, industry, education, and government leaders to advance Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), according to the WorldSkills International website. This year’s event is expected to be the largest in WorldSkills history, with approximately 1,400 competitors from nearly 70 countries and regions expected to participate.
The competition will feature 64 official skill events across six major fields: manufacturing, transportation, construction, information and communication technology, creative arts and fashion, and social and personal services. Seven new skills will debut at this edition, including unmanned aerial systems, digital interactive media design, rail vehicle technology, intelligent security technology, software testing, dental prosthetics, and retail sales, as Bastille Post reported. These additions reflect evolving industry trends and technological progress, particularly in digital and intelligent technologies.
China’s Rise to WorldSkills Dominance
Since joining WorldSkills International in October 2010, China has participated in seven editions of the competition, accumulating 93 gold medals, 41 silver medals, 28 bronze medals, and 71 Medallions for Excellence. The country has ranked first in both the gold medal table and overall team points for four consecutive editions, according to the Shanghai government.
This year’s delegation will compete across all 64 skill categories, a feat China has achieved only twice before. “The delegation will strictly observe competition rules, compete fairly and with civility, demonstrate both sportsmanship and skill, and fully showcase the superb expertise and positive image of China’s young skilled professionals in the new era,” an official with the Chinese delegation said, as quoted by the Global Times.
Uniforms Rooted in Cultural Heritage
The Chinese delegation’s award ceremony and competition uniforms have been unveiled, drawing design inspiration from traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon joinery—an ancient woodworking technique that connects structural components without nails, according to China News Service. The award ceremony uniforms feature a red-and-white color scheme under the concept “Red Shines with Craftsmanship, Building Dreams at WorldSkills,” while the competition uniforms use a lake-blue palette with the concept “Blue Embodies Craftsmanship, Racing at WorldSkills.” Fujian Septwolves Industrial Co., Ltd. designed the award ceremony uniforms, and Xtep (China) Co., Ltd. designed the competition uniforms, as reported by Beijing Time.
Shanghai Prepares for the Global Stage
Shanghai, China’s financial and commercial center, is preparing to welcome the world’s skills community. The city, home to nearly 30 million people and the world’s busiest container port, will host the WorldSkills Conference 2026 and the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Expo alongside the Competition, according to WorldSkills International.
The event’s motto, “Master Skills, Change Your Future,” reflects its focus on youth employment and skills development. Promotion ambassadors include internationally renowned content creator Li Ziqi, who has over 32 million YouTube followers, and Chinese actor Xiao Zhan. Speaking at the 100-day countdown on June 14, David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, said: “WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 is a great opportunity for the world to come together to celebrate what skilled people can achieve, and to shape the future of skills development for generations to come,” as WorldSkills International reported.
What to Watch For
As the first WorldSkills Competition to be held in China, the Shanghai event represents a significant milestone for the country’s vocational education sector. The competition will test competitors’ capabilities in handling new technologies and using AI tools to solve problems at work, while also accelerating the conversion of competition standards into educational and training standards, providing a reference for cultivating skilled professionals worldwide.
With less than a month until the opening ceremony, all eyes will be on Shanghai as approximately 1,400 young skilled professionals from around the world converge to demonstrate the power of skills. The event’s success could further cement China’s position as a global leader in vocational education and skills development, while inspiring a new generation of young people to pursue careers in technical fields.