WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, the 48th WorldSkills Competition, will take place in China from September 22 to 27, 2026. Around 1,400 competitors from 73 countries and regions are expected at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), competing in 64 skills. Seven skills will be included in the WorldSkills Competition for the first time.
The program includes Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. WorldSkills defines professionals in this field as responsible for the design, installation, maintenance, and repair of refrigeration and air conditioning systems. These specialists work in residential and commercial sectors, construction, and transport, including refrigeration and air conditioning equipment for trucks and ships.
At WorldSkills Lyon 2024, competitors from China and Chinese Taipei won gold medals in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, while the competitor from the United Kingdom received silver. The skill competition will return as part of the WorldSkills event in Shanghai in September 2026.
Alongside the competition, WorldSkills Conference 2026 will take place at the NECC from September 23 to 25 under the theme “Shaping a skills-driven future.” Around 40 ministers and deputy ministers responsible for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) are expected to participate. The program will address international cooperation in TVET, collaboration between education and industry, human-centered training systems, adapting skills to labor market requirements, and the green transition.
The conference will also feature Skills CoLab, a new format for knowledge exchange and professional engagement. Thirty projects focused on skills development have been selected, with the format providing direct interaction with project authors, exchange of practices, and the creation of new international partnerships.
WorldSkills identifies finding solutions related to climate and the environment as one of the key challenges for the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning profession. Training skilled professionals for the transition to a more sustainable economy will also be among the topics addressed at WorldSkills Conference 2026.
