A one-year countdown poster for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. [Photo/WeChat ID: shanghaifabu]

The one-year countdown has begun for the 48th WorldSkills Competition — scheduled to be held on Sept 22-27 in 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai).

The prestigious event will gather young skilled professionals from around the world to showcase their talent, with over 60 countries participating and more than 1,400 competitors expected.

A countdown celebration on Sept 22 highlighted China's commitment to fostering global connections through skills — with key announcements including the launch of volunteer recruitment, the introduction of major sponsors and the unveiling of Dream Ambassadors.

According to the organizers, the event will feature 64 competition categories — including traditional fields like construction, engineering, fashion and IT — while introducing new categories such as railway vehicle technology and smart security technology.

During the countdown event, 10 high-skilled professionals were named Dream Ambassadors. Among them were Ning Xianhai, who won a gold medal in welding at the 45th WorldSkills Competition and Zheng Qiyuan, who achieved a historic gold in mobile robotics.

These ambassadors are said to represent the spirit of excellence and innovation that the WorldSkills Competition embodies.

Organizers said they would help convey the event's core value of "Master Skills Can Change Your Future" — inspiring more workers, especially the younger generation, to pursue successful careers through skills development.

Volunteer recruitment has officially started, with opportunities available at airports, train stations, competition venues and hotels.

To ensure a high-quality service, a comprehensive training program and a user-friendly registration system have been developed. Special volunteer activities will also be organized to set a new standard for event support.