“I propose that we cheer for skilled professionals on the global stage just as we cheer for athletes,” said Francis Hourant, President of WorldSkills, drawing warm applause at the Ambassadors’ Rreception for the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Beijing on 25 May.

The 48th WorldSkills Competition will be held in Shanghai from 22 to 27 September. Through the reception, the city extended an open invitation to the world, welcoming guests from across the globe to gather in Shanghai for a major international celebration of skills excellence.

Preparations for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 progressing steadily

The reception venue resembled a miniature skills expo. Guests explored demonstrations in WorldSkills competition skills including Jewellery, Joinery, and Floristry, alongside displays of traditional Chinese craftsmanship such as “Clay Figure Zhang” painted clay figurines from Tianjin. Live performances by robots and robotic dogs added a modern touch, creating a vivid blend of heritage and innovation that drew many guests to stop, watch and take part in the activities.

Guests also showed strong interest in updates on WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 shared at the reception. Preparations are progressing steadily, and this edition is expected to set three records in WorldSkills history.

It will feature the largest number of competition skills, with 64 in total after the addition of seven new skills, including Unmanned Aerial Systems. It will also attract the largest number of participants and Member organizations to date, with nearly 5,900 people pre-registered, including  1,400 Competitors from over 70 countries and regions. In addition, it will have the largest venue space, with 11 halls at the National Exhibition and Convention Center covering 360,000 square meters, providing a shared platform for competitors to refine their skills and engage in international skills exchange and cooperation.

“Portugal is one of the founding Members of WorldSkills, and this year we will once again send a delegation to compete in Shanghai,” said Paulo Nascimento, Ambassador of Portugal to China. He said he hopes young skilled professionals from around the world will deepen exchanges and build friendships through the Competition.

During the WorldSkills Competition, Shanghai will also host the WorldSkills Conference and the WorldSkills Expo. As a major global event in the skills sector, the WorldSkills Conference 2026 will bring together policymakers, government officials, industry leaders, educators and young people from around the world to discuss key issues in vocational education and training, linking policy and practice to advance global skills development.

Enhancing the visitor experience is an essential part of the WorldSkills Competition. Reporters learned at the reception that, as a major showcase of the Competition, this year’s WorldSkills Expo will serve as an interactive platform for exchange and skills display. Through skills demonstrations, hands-on experiences, explanations, international exchanges and immersive audiovisual activities, young people will have the opportunity to engage with the world of skills and experience its appeal firsthand.

“Many government officials in my country, like myself, are looking forward to the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai,” said Hallam Henry, Ambassador of Barbados to China. “Today’s reception gave me a deeper understanding of the Competition, as well as its value and significance.” He added that he has lived and worked in China for 16 years, including many years in Shanghai, and that China’s industrial development and skills culture have left a strong impression on him.

Skills can change your future

“Before starting my journey in skills competitions, I had never been on a plane or even left my home province. Skills opened the door to a much bigger world for me,” said Lu Jingyi, a student at Henan Chemical Technician College. Her remarks were met with warm applause at the reception.

Lu’s story reflects the power of skills to change the world and transform lives. At the WorldSkills Competition in Lyon in September 2024, she won gold in Chemical Laboratory Technology. Few would have imagined that in 2020, after failing to get into her preferred high school, she had once considered herself a failure.

“That year, I did not get into my ideal high school. Following my teacher’s advice, I enrolled at Henan Chemical Technician College to learn vocational skills,” Lu recalled. “At first, I was resistant to the idea and even thought about dropping out, because many people still looked down on technical education.”

In 2022, Jiang Yuhe, a fellow student from the same college and two years ahead of Lu, won China’s first-ever gold medal in Chemical Laboratory Technology at the WorldSkills Competition Special Edition. The achievement inspired Lu to find a new direction for her life, and two years later she stood on the top of the podium herself.

Today, Lu is one of the 11 Global Dream Ambassadors for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. She hopes more people will come to understand and value skills, and recognize their importance and power. “My story proves that skills can change your future,” she said. “No matter where you come from, mastering a skill can help you achieve your dreams.”

As artificial intelligence and robotics continue to develop rapidly, some have questioned the future prospects of vocational skills. However, representatives from robotics companies attending the reception said that behind advanced technologies still lies a strong demand for highly skilled workers. “Many processes in the production of our robots and robotic dogs still need to be completed and checked by people,” one company representative said. “That is why demand for highly skilled talent in this field remains very strong.”

“I’m very pleased to see many Chinese medal winners returning home to help train the next generation of skilled professionals,” said Francis Hourant, praising China’s vocational skills development system. He added that when young people gain more skills, they enjoy better job opportunities, live with greater dignity, and contribute lasting momentum to peace and development around the world.