280 teams. 500+ robots. 26 events. The most formalized humanoid competition to date.
The World Humanoid Robot Games is an annual multi-sport competition featuring humanoid robots, first held in Beijing, China in August 2025.
Organized by China Media Group, Beijing Municipal People’s Government, World Robot Cooperation Organization, and Asia-Pacific RoboCup International Council, the event features 26 competitions across sports, utility, and entertainment categories.
2025 Edition
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Host | Beijing, China |
| Dates | August 15-17, 2025 |
| Teams | 280 |
| Robots | 500+ |
| Events | 26 |
| Opening Ceremony | Beijing National Stadium |
| Closing Ceremony | Beijing National Speed Skating Oval |
Notable Results
- 1,500m race: Won by Unitree H1
- Boxing: Included as medal event
- Other events: Football, cleaning, sorting medicines, and 22 additional competitions
2026 Edition
The second World Humanoid Robot Games will be held in Beijing in August 2026. The event is expected to expand participation and add new competition categories.
Participating Robots
- Unitree H1 (1,500m race winner)
- Unitree G1 (demonstration events)
- Various humanoid platforms from China and international teams
Autonomy Level
Events vary in autonomy requirements. Some competitions — like racing and cleaning — may involve autonomous navigation. Others — like boxing — are currently teleoperated.
The games serve as a benchmark for humanoid capability across multiple domains rather than a pure autonomy competition.
Significance
The World Humanoid Robot Games represents the most formalized, government-backed humanoid competition to date. With 280 teams and 500+ robots, it’s an order of magnitude larger than commercial leagues like UFB or URKL.
The inclusion of boxing and combat-style events alongside utility competitions suggests combat robotics is being normalized as a standard benchmark for humanoid capability.
Comparison
| World Humanoid Robot Games | URKL | UFB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Multi-sport competition | Combat league | Combat league |
| Backing | Government / institutional | Commercial | Commercial |
| Scale | 280 teams, 500+ robots | Smaller, growing | Showcase events |
| Events | 26 (sports + utility) | Full-contact combat | Boxing / MMA |
| Autonomy | Mixed | Teleoperated | Teleoperated |
| Prize | Medals / national recognition | 10M yuan gold belt | Not disclosed |
Related
- Combat Robotics Overview — How WHG fits into the broader landscape
- UFB League — US-based combat showcase league
- URKL League — China-based full-contact combat league
- Unitree G1 — Robot that participated in demonstration events
Last updated: May 2026 | Next event: August 2026, Beijing