More than 600 teams brought 2,000 robots to Beijing for the second edition of this annual competition, where humanoid robots compete in a wide variety of events, including athletics and household tasks.August 24, 2026, 12:19 PM ET Lintao Zhang / GettyA humanoid robot waves a flag during the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 22, 2026.Pedro Pardo / AFP / GettyRobots parade on a track during the opening ceremony of the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on August 22, 2026.Pedro Pardo / AFP / GettyRobots play drums during an opening-ceremony performance on August 22, 2026.Lintao Zhang / Getty“Blitz,” a robot from the Chinese cellphone manufacturer Honor, takes an oath at the opening ceremony at the National Speed Skating Oval on August 22, 2026.Qilai Shen / Bloomberg / GettyGalbot G1 robots perform during a rehearsal ahead of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on August 21, 2026.VCG / GettyRobots and artists perform during the opening ceremony on August 22, 2026.Tingshu Wang / ReutersA Tiangong robot takes part in a long-jump contest at the National Speed Skating Oval on August 23, 2026.Lintao Zhang / Getty“Blitz” is placed on a stretcher after a 100m preliminary run on August 22, 2026.Tingshu Wang / ReutersA robot takes part in a dexterous hand-block building contest in Beijing on August 23, 2026.Pedro Pardo / AFP / GettyA robot celebrates after scoring a goal during a football match on August 22, 2026.Qilai Shen / Bloomberg / GettyBooster T2 robots lie on the floor during an opening-ceremony rehearsal on August 21, 2026.Lintao Zhang / GettyA humanoid robot competes in the 1500m event during day two of the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games.Florence Lo / ReutersA robot falls beside a burning robot competitor after completing a 100m large-size group preliminary race on August 22, 2026.Lintao Zhang / GettyStaff members douse a burning robot with fire extinguishers at the National Speed Skating Oval on August 22, 2026.Pedro Pardo / AFP / GettyA robot returns a ball during a tennis match in Beijing on August 22, 2026.Lintao Zhang / GettyRobots fight in the lightweight combat event during day two of the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games.Achmad Ibrahim / APA robot is carried off the field after a soccer game on August 22, 2026.Lintao Zhang / GettyTechnicians guide robots during rehearsals on August 19, 2026.Lintao Zhang / GettyA robot competes in the 400m obstacle event on August 24, 2026.Lintao Zhang / GettyRobots compete in a table-tennis event on August 22, 2026.Pedro Pardo / AFP / GettyA robot competes in the tai chi event on day two of the World Humanoid Robot Games.Tingshu Wang / ReutersA robot falls during a 400m obstacle race.Lintao Zhang / GettyStaff members remove a malfunctioning robot during the 400m small group final on August 22, 2026.Lintao Zhang / GettyHumanoid robots compete in the 100m preliminary at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing on August 22, 2026.About the AuthorAlan Taylor is a senior editor at The Atlantic.Explore More Topics