The World Robot Conference 2026 (WRC 2026) will run from August 19 to 23, 2026 at Beiren Etrong International Exhibition and Convention Center in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (Beijing E-Town). The World Robot Expo 2026 and the World Robot Contest 2026 will be held concurrently with the conference, fully presenting the latest achievements and development trends in the global robotics sector.

Further Expanded Scale and Higher Standards

This year's conference introduces themed days for the first time: Release Day, Procurement Day, Developer Day, and Public Open Days—each tailored to effectively engage different target audiences.

The Release Day is set for August 19. It will feature announcements of major achievements, debut products, and collaborative initiatives.

August 20 is the Procurement Day, during which several activities driven by application demand will be held. Specifically, procurement negotiations, supply chain matchmaking sessions and other relevant activities are expected to build efficient bridges between supply and demand and accelerate the adoption of robotics across various sectors.

August 21 is the Developer Day, bringing together developers from around the world to engage in technological exchanges, present their achievements, and explore effective pathways for fostering a robust industrial ecosystem, jointly empowering high-quality innovative development of the robotics industry.

August 22 and 23 are the Public Open Days. Everyone is invited to experience the futuristic achievements firsthand.

Robot Expo Expected to Feature Over 2,000 Exhibits

The World Robot Expo 2026 and the World Robot Contest 2026 will run during the same period. The expo is anticipated to feature over 2,000 exhibits presented by more than 300 exhibitors, with more than 150 products unveiled for the first time. The number of parallel sub-events doubles compared to last year, reaching over 60 sessions.

The expo is organized into four exhibition zones: the Smart Innovation Hall (智创馆), the Smart Integration Hall (智合馆), the Smart Manufacturing Hall (智造馆), and the Smart Entertainment Hall (智趣馆), highlighting robot applications and solutions in scenarios such as production and manufacturing, warehousing and logistics, catering and retail, healthcare and eldercare, workplace safety, and emergency rescue. Meanwhile, numerous Chinese and foreign component manufacturers will exhibit their products such as sensors, reducers, ball screws, motors, batteries, dexterous hands, and integrated joints. Together, these participants will present a complete picture of the upstream and downstream segments of the robotics supply chain.

Outstanding Projects Including Brain-Controlled Unmanned Vehicles to Be Showcased

The finals of the World Robot Contest 2026 will take place during the conference, with over 10,000 competitors from more than 6,000 teams representing over 20 countries competing head-to-head.

The contest will cover several cutting-edge domains. The Tri-Co (Coexisting-Cooperative-Cognitive) Robot Challenge will test competing teams’ ability to perform coordinated operations using aerial imagery captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ground-based embodied intelligent systems. The Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Robot Competition will showcase outstanding projects including brain-controlled humanoid and quadruped robots, brain-controlled unmanned vehicles, and sleep monitoring systems, and allow visitors to experience them firsthand. An on-site challenge for a new record in the WRC BCI competition will also be held.

First-Ever Robot Shopping Street

The Global Robotics Application Exploration Program (全球机器人应用探索计划) will be launched at the conference, calling on leading global robotics enterprises to submit mass-produced products such as humanoid robots, quadruped robots, and dexterous hands. These products will be matched with outstanding innovation teams worldwide for free trials, enabling exploration of real-world applications, thereby accelerating the move of cutting-edge technologies into wider markets.

The 2nd E-Town Robot Consumer Festival will also be held during the conference. For the first time, a Robot Shopping Street will be set up, where robot chefs will prepare co-branded food items and beverages. Creative cultural merchandise inspired by the WRC's mascot will also be on sale.

The brand-new online service platform of WRC 2026 went live on July 6. It integrates services for expo visitors, forum attendees, media, and exhibitors, putting the entire event journey—from exhibition tours and session participation to media reporting—at users’ fingertips with just a few taps.

The World Robot Conference and the World Robot Games will adopt a linked ticketing arrangement. Any visitor holding a ticket stub from either event can enjoy discounted pricing when purchasing a ticket for the other. In addition, for professional visitors, including technical practitioners from enterprises, universities, and research institutions, an "All-Access Pass" will be available, enabling a single purchase for full participation throughout the period.

(Source: The Beijing News)