The inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games concluded in Beijing this August, establishing a precedent for the competitive robotics worldwide. With 280 teams from 16 nations demonstrating cutting-edge AI and motion control technologies, the question emerges: which cities might host future editions of this groundbreaking competition?

Beijing Sets the Foundation for International Growth

Beijing’s successful hosting demonstrates the infrastructure requirements for these advanced competitions. The Chinese capital utilized Olympic-caliber venues—the Bird’s Nest and Ice Ribbon—providing the space and technology needed for 26 different robotic disciplines. This blueprint offers valuable insights for potential host cities evaluating their capabilities.

Zhou Changjiu, president of the RoboCup Asia-Pacific Confederation, emphasized China’s unique position during the games. The country’s robust humanoid robot manufacturing capabilities enabled international teams to deploy their AI algorithms on Chinese-built hardware platforms. This integration showcased how host nations with strong robotics industries can provide competitive advantages.

The 2025 games featured competitions spanning athletic performance, practical applications, and entertainment segments. Robots competed in track and field, gymnastics, and soccer while demonstrating real-world capabilities through drug sorting, material handling, and hospitality services. These diverse requirements mean potential host cities need facilities accommodating both athletic competitions and technical demonstrations.

Infrastructure Requirements Shape Host City Selection

Successful hosting demands sophisticated technological infrastructure beyond traditional sports venues. Teams require reliable internet connectivity, specialized power systems for self-contained robots, and safety protocols for autonomous machines. The Beijing model established technical standards that future host cities must meet or exceed.

International participation involved teams from 16 countries, but this number could expand dramatically if the competition gains momentum. The successful integration of AI decision-making in soccer competitions and remote-operated boxing matches demonstrated the versatility of humanoid robotics platforms.

Zhou highlighted that foreign soccer teams universally utilized Chinese-manufactured humanoid robots, suggesting host countries with strong robotics industries might attract more international participation. This pattern could influence which nations pursue hosting rights for future games.

Robotics Industry Clusters Drive Hosting Potential

Several global regions possess the technological foundations necessary for hosting future World Humanoid Robot Games. Japan’s advanced robotics sector, centered in Tokyo and Osaka, represents strong hosting potential. The country’s decades of humanoid robot development and manufacturing expertise parallel China’s advantages.

South Korea’s technology hubs around Seoul and Busan offer another compelling option. The nation’s integration of AI research with manufacturing capabilities mirrors the requirements demonstrated in Beijing’s successful hosting model.

European robotics centers present interesting possibilities for continental expansion. Germany’s industrial robotics strength, particularly around Munich and Stuttgart, could support the technical demands. The Netherlands, with its concentration of AI research institutions, represents another potential European host.

Academic and Industrial Partnerships Enable Global Reach

The Beijing games coincided with the World Robot Conference, creating synergy between competitive events and industry exhibitions. This model suggests future host cities benefit from existing robotics conferences or trade shows that complement the competitive aspects.

Universities with strong robotics programs could anchor hosting bids in their respective regions. MIT and Stanford in the United States, ETH Zurich in Switzerland, and the University of Tokyo in Japan all represent academic centers capable of supporting such events.

Zhou’s observation about the three components of humanoid robots—hardware body, AI brain, and motion control cerebellum—indicates host cities need access to expertise across all these domains. This requirement favors locations with integrated research and development ecosystems.

Participation Growth Projections and Geographic Expansion

The current 16-nation participation represents just the beginning of potential global expansion. Zhou’s comparison to the Olympic Games’ historical development suggests the World Humanoid Robot Games could follow a similar growth trajectory over decades.

Regional qualifying competitions could emerge as participation increases, with continental championships feeding into global finals. This structure would distribute hosting opportunities across multiple countries while maintaining competitive standards.

The successful demonstration of both autonomous AI decision-making and human-operated control systems broadens the appeal to diverse robotics communities worldwide. Countries with strengths in either approach could develop competitive advantages that justify hosting bids.

Technology Transfer Benefits Influence Host Selection

International teams’ experiences with Chinese robotics hardware during the Beijing games demonstrated how hosting creates technology transfer opportunities. Countries viewing the games as platforms for showcasing domestic robotics capabilities might prioritize hosting bids.

The practical applications demonstrated—from healthcare scenarios to industrial logistics—align with national priorities in many developed economies. Host cities could leverage these demonstrations to attract investment in local robotics industries.

Zhou’s prediction of breakthrough developments in AI understanding of physical environments within three to five years suggests the competition will rapidly evolve. Early host cities might benefit from association with these technological advances.

Olympic Venue Legacy Creates Hosting Advantages

Beijing’s use of Olympic facilities highlights how cities with existing world-class sports infrastructure possess inherent advantages. Former Olympic host cities worldwide could repurpose venues for robotics competitions, reducing infrastructure investment requirements.

The integration of traditional athletic competitions with scenario-based challenges requires versatile facilities capable of rapid reconfiguration. Cities with experience hosting multi-sport international events demonstrate this organizational capability.

The second World Humanoid Robot Games will return to Beijing in August 2026, continuing the co-sponsorship arrangement between the Beijing Municipal People’s Government and China Central Radio and Television. This extended Beijing hosting period provides additional time for other cities worldwide to develop hosting proposals and necessary infrastructure upgrades, allowing potential hosts to study the refined Beijing model across multiple iterations.

Long-term Vision Shapes Global Competition Structure

Zhou’s vision of Beijing as the birthplace of “humanoid robot Olympics” suggests the competition will eventually require multiple host cities to accommodate growing participation. The Olympic model typically rotates hosting among qualified cities, distributing economic benefits and showcasing different technological approaches.

At the closing ceremony held at the National Speed Skating Hall’s “Ice Ribbon,” four major organizations—the World Robot Cooperation, Global Digital Economy City Alliance, Asia-Pacific Robot World Cup International Council, and Chinese Institute of Electronics—jointly established the World Humanoid Robot Sports Federation. This governance framework will likely establish criteria for host city selection and competition standards as the event expands globally.

As humanoid robots advance toward practical applications in homes, factories, and hospitals, the competition serves broader purposes than entertainment. Host cities gain exposure to cutting-edge technologies with significant economic implications, creating strong incentives for international competition to secure hosting rights.

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Sources: Wikipedia, Bjnews.com.cn, People’s Daily Online

Written by Alius Noreika