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Scenes From the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games

The Atlantic
August 24, 2026 at 4:19 PM
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Scenes From the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games

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.

A humanoid robot riding on a four-legged robotic vehicle waves a flag during an opening ceremony.
Lintao Zhang / Getty
A 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.
Dozens of robots parade on an indoor track.
Pedro Pardo / AFP / Getty
Robots parade on a track during the opening ceremony of the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on August 22, 2026.
Robots wearing traditional costumes play drums during an opening ceremony performance.
Pedro Pardo / AFP / Getty
Robots play drums during an opening-ceremony performance on August 22, 2026.
A humanoid robot stands at a microphone beside two actual humans, one holding a blue flag.
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.
A group of robots move along an indoor track, saluting.
Qilai Shen / Bloomberg / Getty
Galbot G1 robots perform during a rehearsal ahead of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on August 21, 2026.
Several human performers dance beside a platform featuring anthropomorphized food, centered around a humanoid robot acting as a chef.
VCG / Getty
Robots and artists perform during the opening ceremony on August 22, 2026.
A low-angle view of a humanoid robot in midair during a long jump competition
Tingshu Wang / Reuters
A Tiangong robot takes part in a long-jump contest at the National Speed Skating Oval on August 23, 2026.
Two people lift a fallen humanoid robot onto a stretcher.
Lintao Zhang / Getty
“Blitz” is placed on a stretcher after a 100m preliminary run on August 22, 2026.
A five-fingered robotic hand, holding a wooden block
Tingshu Wang / Reuters
A robot takes part in a dexterous hand-block building contest in Beijing on August 23, 2026.
A robot strikes a pose, 'celebrating,' during a robotic soccer match.
Pedro Pardo / AFP / Getty
A robot celebrates after scoring a goal during a football match on August 22, 2026.
A person stands over seven humanoid robots that lie on concrete.
Qilai Shen / Bloomberg / Getty
Booster T2 robots lie on the floor during an opening-ceremony rehearsal on August 21, 2026.
A crowd cheers as a humanoid robot runs past them on a track.
Lintao Zhang / Getty
A humanoid robot competes in the 1500m event during day two of the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games.
A humanoid robot falls on a track beside a burning robot competitor after a race.
Florence Lo / Reuters
A robot falls beside a burning robot competitor after completing a 100m large-size group preliminary race on August 22, 2026.
Staff members douse a burning robot with fire extinguishers.
Lintao Zhang / Getty
Staff members douse a burning robot with fire extinguishers at the National Speed Skating Oval on August 22, 2026.
A humanoid robot returns a ball during a tennis match.
Pedro Pardo / AFP / Getty
A robot returns a ball during a tennis match in Beijing on August 22, 2026.
Two robot boxers fight.
Lintao Zhang / Getty
Robots fight in the lightweight combat event during day two of the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games.
Two people carry an inert humanoid robot off a soccer field.
Achmad Ibrahim / AP
A robot is carried off the field after a soccer game on August 22, 2026.
Human technicians guide several humanoid robots in a hallway.
Lintao Zhang / Getty
Technicians guide robots during rehearsals on August 19, 2026.
A humanoid robot is tangled in a swinging-tire obstacle during a race.
Lintao Zhang / Getty
A robot competes in the 400m obstacle event on August 24, 2026.
Two humanoid robots wearing hats play table tennis.
Lintao Zhang / Getty
Robots compete in a table-tennis event on August 22, 2026.
A humanoid robot wearing a tai chi uniform competes in a tai chi event.
Pedro Pardo / AFP / Getty
A robot competes in the tai chi event on day two of the World Humanoid Robot Games.
The feet of a humanoid robot stick up, after it fell during an obstacle race.
Tingshu Wang / Reuters
A robot falls during a 400m obstacle race.
Two staff members remove a malfunctioning robot, seated in a wheelchair.
Lintao Zhang / Getty
Staff members remove a malfunctioning robot during the 400m small group final on August 22, 2026.
A humanoid robot crosses a finish line during a race. Another robot lies prone in the background.
Lintao Zhang / Getty
Humanoid robots compete in the 100m preliminary at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing on August 22, 2026.
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Original source:

https://www.theatlantic.com/photography/2026/08/scenes-2026-world-humanoid-robot-games/688388/?utm_source=feed