Second World Humanoid Robot Games

The Second World Humanoid Robot Games (WHRG) is a premier global competition and technology showcase dedicated to humanoid robotics. Held in Beijing, China, the 2026 event is co-hosted by the municipal government, China Media Group, and the World Robot Cooperation Organisation. This edition represents a major expansion in scale, with 666 teams and 2,056 robots—more than quadruple the participation of the inaugural games. The competition is designed as a public stress test for prototypes, moving them from controlled lab environments into complex, competitive scenarios.

The games are structured into two main categories: traditional sporting events and real-world application tasks. Robotic competitors face off in track and field, football, and gymnastics, alongside practical challenges such as hotel service, medicine sorting, and emergency rescue simulations. A specific focus for the 2026 games is the 'robotic hand' challenge, where machines are judged on their speed and precision while performing delicate manual tasks like tightening screws, opening bottles, and using tweezers to pick up small beads.

Notable highlights of the 2026 games include humanoid robots achieving athletic feats that surpass human world records, particularly in sprinting and autonomous half-marathons. Beyond the sporting spectacle, the event serves a strategic purpose by demonstrating the commercial viability of humanoid robots in manufacturing and healthcare. By integrating 'sports plus art plus application,' the games aim to accelerate the adoption of robotic technology into everyday life and industrial processes.