2026 World Robot Conference kicks off in Beijing

Robots stage a football match during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Robot components are displayed during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Visitors take selfies during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Photo by Bi Shanghong/Xinhua)

Robotic dogs are displayed during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Photo by Bi Shanghong/Xinhua)

Robots are displayed during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2026 shows an exterior view of the venue for the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

A robot dances for visitors during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

A visitor takes photos of a humanoid robot during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Children watch a performance by small-sized robots during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Photo by Bi Shanghong/Xinhua)

A small-sized robot for educational purposes is displayed during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

An orthopedic surgical robot is displayed during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

A cartoonized robot interacts with children during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Dexterous robotic hands are displayed during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A robotic dog for detection is displayed during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A robot demonstrates sewing skills during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A robot demonstrates package sorting skills during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

People visit the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A robot demonstrates housekeeping skills during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A visitor tries remotely controlled robotic arms during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A robot demonstrates item-fetching skills during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A Unitree robot is displayed during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Xie Han)

Dexterous robotic hands are displayed during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Xie Han)

A robot demonstrates folding clothes during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

A humanoid robot is displayed during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Xie Han)

A robot plays table tennis during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

A robot demonstrates its boxing ability during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

A robot dances for visitors during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

A robot performs during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

A man and a child watch the demonstration of a dexterous robotic hand during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

A robot band performs with staff members during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Xie Han)

A robot band performs during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

People visit the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

Robots perform lion dance during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

Robots are pictured during a simulated dining table clearing scenario during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

A dancing robot is pictured during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

A robot demonstrates jumping ability during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

A robot demonstrates its ability of doing chores during the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2026. Themed "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence," the 2026 edition of the conference kicked off here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)