Shanghai. The delegations from the participating countries taking part in WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 were given a warm welcome by 62 local schools in the Yangtze River Delta region on Tuesday. The visit was part of the cultural exchange program called 'One School One Member', which has been a much-loved part of the WorldSkills competition since its launch in 2007.
How did this journey begin?
This initiative connects local schools with countries and territories participating in WorldSkills. Its purpose is to give the participants and the youth of the host country an opportunity to connect with each other and learn about each other's culture months before the competition. Organizers of WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 first connected schools and teams during the Competition Preparation Week on 4 February 2026.
Schools and delegations then had time to exchange messages, share presentations and ask questions about each other's traditions and skills. Today, seven months later, the schools received the participants on their campus and finally met them face to face.
Cultural exchange in schools
After introduction by the school principals and teachers, the participants were engaged in special activities organized by the schools. It also included a chance to enjoy traditional dance, handicrafts, food and music. They shared their experiences and exchanged gifts and souvenirs from their respective countries.
What did the participants say?
Bjarne Weber, participant in Landscape Gardening for Luxembourg, said, “Today's visit was very interesting and the students felt very welcome. They are very ambitious and have a lot of modern technology for their pupils. It is good to see how they train. I am very happy to be here.”
“We have French and Chinese students together. We're talking about our different cultures and sharing our food and examples of what we've made. This makes the day very meaningful for me and everyone here,” said a student from a school in Shanghai.
French cyber security participant Mahel Brossier loved the interior of a Chinese school. “I was really curious to see how different this school would be from France, and I was really impressed with how skilled they were,” he said.
What will happen next?
In the coming days, students from these schools will return and visit the National Exhibition and Convention Center to witness the magic of WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. There they will get a chance to try out some of the skills themselves, watch their country's team compete and understand what it takes to master a skill.
Shanghai will become a global stage of skills tonight
Tonight, Shanghai will officially become the global stage for Skills. Inside the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), equipment has been set up on workstations, the expo hall is ready for visitors and the conference venue is ready to welcome the skills community. WorldSkills members, global partners, experts, friends and relatives are arriving tonight to cheer on 1,400 of the world's most skilled youth at the opening ceremony at the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Centre.
Special features of the opening ceremony
The opening ceremony will begin with the Parade of Nations led by the WorldSkills Champions Trust. More than 65 competing countries and territories will pass through the venue, showcasing the full scale of the WorldSkills movement. Some of China's highest-level dignitaries as well as more than 50 ministers from around the world will be present on the occasion. The event will also include a spectacular sound and light show along with exciting performances from several WorldSkills Champions. After the official address to the assembled guests, the 48th WorldSkills Competition will officially open.
Plan for next four days for 4 lakh visitors to NECC
Wednesday, September 23: Participants will begin their four-day rigorous testing and evaluation. The WorldSkills Conference 2026 will also begin with a series of plenaries and panels.
Thursday, September 24: The second day of the WorldSkills Conference 2026 is where delegates can share best practices at the Skills Collab. On the competition floor, visitors can try activities at the WorldSkills Expo and Try-A-Skill booth.
Friday, September 25: On the third day, the conference will conclude with a series of field trips into industry, followed by a reception at the WorldSkills Museum. Young students coming to the competition will see the participants working hard on their test projects.
Saturday, September 26: Don't miss the countdown to the Skills Competition Workshop on the last day, when the excitement of the competition will reach its peak.
Sunday, September 27: The hard work and dedication of the champions will be recognized at a spectacular closing ceremony at the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Centre, where medals will be presented and the crowd will enjoy a spectacular finale to a memorable week. In a final special moment, the WorldSkills flag will be handed over to WorldSkills Japan as it prepares to host WorldSkills Aichi 2028. Throughout the week, visitors can visit incredible locations and be a part of various events.