Do you want to watch robots boxing, dancing, or even cooking? Are you interested in finding business partners in robotics? Or perhaps you just want to have some fun? Come to the World Robot Conference 2026 (WRC 2026).

Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of WRC kicked off in Beijing on August 19.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Xin Guobin, vice minister of industry and information technology, said the operating revenue of industrial enterprises above designated size in China's robotics sector exceeded 300 billion RMB in 2025, with an average annual growth rate of over 20 percent over the past five years.

This year's event gathered more than 300 exhibitors, presenting over 3,000 products — including more than 300 debuts.

At the booth of Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics, the Tiangong Omni, a new intelligent species of humanoid robot, demonstrated versatile skills such as walking on plum-blossom piles, navigating stairs, and crawling on all fours, vividly illustrating its motion control, environmental adaptability, and task execution capabilities.

At Fourier's booth, a Robot Butler's Day, an immersive experience space, drew crowds of visitors. Multiple GR‑3 robots acted as "intelligent butler assistants" in a simulated home environment. Visitors could control the robots with natural language commands, enabling them to autonomously allocate tasks and independently perform a range of duties — from home security and item delivery to daily companionship and visitor reception, showcasing new possibilities for robots to integrate into future family life.

This year's WRC witnessed greater international participation with support from about 30 international organizations, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the International Federation of Robotics, and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations.

Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation, the U.S., has come to the WRC nearly every year. Impressed by the crowds at the WRC and China's robotics development, he told Science and Technology Daily that although there are differences between Chinese and U.S. markets, China and the U.S. could strengthen cooperation in the robotics field, such as in standards.

euRobotics' Vice President Juha Röning has more than one Chinese robot in his lab. He said the speed of China's robotics development exceeded his expectations. He believes that robots could be part of solutions to address global challenges such as an aging population and pollution.

Jack Perry Jr., chairman of the 48 Group and executive chairman of LEC Robotics, came to the WRC for the first time. He toured the exhibition booths and engaged with industry partners to explore potential opportunities for collaboration. He pointed out that Europe's demand for robotics is strong, with countless real-world applications yet to be fully recognized and explored. If properly developed, the robotics market holds enormous potential for trade between China and Europe.

In the eyes of Jacques Eone, president of the Cameroon Robotics Association, China's robotics industry is growing rapidly. He said that the development of humanoid and AI-powered robots, particularly by several companies encountered at the WRC 2026, is opening a new era of general-purpose robotics. "I see this as a major opportunity for Cameroon and Africa, where automation needs remain significant. We are exploring practical applications of robotics in agriculture, mining, security and other key sectors, with the ambition of improving productivity and supporting the emergence of a stronger industrial ecosystem."

Er. Bikash Gurung, president of the Robotics Association of Nepal, said China's robotics industry is the market leader in the world. The innovation in robot world models, the dexterity of the robots, and the growing physical ability of humanoid robots is surprising the world. As the world heads for a trillion-dollar intelligent robot industry, China will have a major share of the market and the investment from China-based robotics companies will grow exponentially. Nepal and China already have cooperation for robotics development. "Our association is supporting the uptake of China-based robots, whether industrial, humanoid or sorting robots."