September 24, 2026
Humanoids take the big stage: 20 robots at the WorldSkills opening
On September 22, 20 full-size humanoid robots performed alongside 120 dancers at the opening of WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.
During early rehearsals, performers worked in protective gear while the team calibrated motion data and relayed the directors’ requirements to engineers. On September 22, more than 10,000 spectators saw the performance, which was streamed worldwide in real time.
The numbers differ. Unitree says it had 19 humanoids, while the official WorldSkills website says there were 20 robots on stage. Unitree describes it as autonomous operation by a cluster of AI robots.
The full recording of the ceremony is available on the official WorldSkills page.
