Glimpses of humanoid robots training across soccer, table tennis and other events ahead of the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, August 14, 2026.
Beijing is set to host the second World Humanoid Robot Games from August 22 to 26, bringing together approximately 2,056 humanoid robots from 16 countries to compete in sports and real-world challenges.
More than 30 events will put the machines through their paces in disciplines ranging from football and sprinting to weightlifting, table tennis and practical tasks, showcasing advances in robotic mobility and autonomy.
IMAGE: Humanoid robots play soccer during a training session ahead of the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games. All photographs: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters
Key Points
- Humanoid robots are training across multiple sporting disciplines ahead of the inaugural 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games.
- Teams demonstrated robots competing in soccer, table tennis and goal-shooting drills during a media tour in Beijing.
- Engineers and team members worked alongside the machines during preparations for the international competition in China.
Robots Take to the Soccer Field
IMAGE: A Booster Robotics humanoid robot runs towards a ball during a training session.
IMAGE: An Agibot humanoid robot plays table tennis with a human.
Teams Fine-Tune Their Machines
IMAGE: A Booster Robotics humanoid robot stands next to team members.
IMAGE: Agibot humanoid robots.
IMAGE: A team member works with a humanoid robot.
Machines Practise Their Strikes
IMAGE: A Booster Robotics humanoid robot shoots a ball towards a goalpost.
Training Includes Learning to Fall
IMAGE: A Booster Robotics humanoid robot lies down, here and below.
Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff
Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
