The WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Expo opened on 23 September, bringing together 24 WorldSkills Member booths in Hall 5.2 of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). Together, they offer visitors a look at how skills are evolving across different countries and regions, from traditional craftsmanship and emerging technologies to vocational education and industry partnerships.

The China Pavilion takes visitors on a journey through four inventions that have long been associated with Chinese ingenuity: gunpowder, printing, the compass, and papermaking. Rather than looking back at these inventions as historical achievements, the pavilion traces how the skills behind them have continued to evolve.

The gunpowder section explores humanity’s changing use of energy. Models of launch vehicles, solid-fuel engines and nuclear power facilities are presented alongside stories of the skilled professionals behind them.

The printing section follows the changing ways in which knowledge and information are shared. Visitors can explore traditional techniques such as woodblock printing, while interactive exhibits introduce technologies including 3D printing and 6G communications.

The compass section draws a line between the ancient Chinese south-pointing chariot and modern navigation technologies. The papermaking section allows visitors to watch demonstrations of traditional papermaking and try their hand at ancient-book restoration.

The other Member booths offer equally diverse perspectives on skills development. The Nordic Circle explores how Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden are responding to rapid changes in the labor market. It highlights the close links between education and industry, and the role of skills development in supporting sustainable growth.

The WorldSkills Africa Pavilion uses key data and case studies to highlight the opportunities presented by Africa’s young population, while showcasing WorldSkills capacity building work across the continent.

SkillsAustria’s booth focuses on the country’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training system, introducing members of the Austrian team and showing how its education and training model helps develop highly skilled professionals.

Together, the 24 booths reflect the diversity and vitality of skills development around the world. They provide a space for different skills, educational approaches and industry practices to be shared and explored, bringing the global WorldSkills community closer together and creating new opportunities for cooperation in skills development.