Faster, stronger, (occasionally) upright: Humanoid robots compete in Beijing games

In competition, humanoid robots tackle workplace challenges, participated in games like Olympics, showed skills in restaurant services

By
Reuters

Updated Tuesday Aug 25 2026

Humanoid robots break Olympic sprint records and tackle workplace challenges from cable assembly to restaurant service at a five-day Beijing competition, where staying upright and not catching fire after crossing the finish line test the machines' limits.

A humanoid robot falls during a 400m obstacle race, during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 24, 2026.— Reuters
A humanoid robot falls during a 400m obstacle race, during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 24, 2026.— Reuters
A humanoid robot runs past a fallen humanoid robot during a 100m large-sized group preliminary race, following the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games, at the National Speed Skating Oval, in Beijing, China August 22.— Reuters
A humanoid robot runs past a fallen humanoid robot during a 100m large-sized group preliminary race, following the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games, at the National Speed Skating Oval, in Beijing, China August 22.— Reuters 
A humanoid robot falls next to another humanoid robot on fire after completing a 100m large-size group preliminary race, during the second World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 22.— Reuters
A humanoid robot falls next to another humanoid robot on fire after completing a 100m large-size group preliminary race, during the second World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 22.— Reuters
Staff members and a firefighter extinguish the flame on a humanoid robot that caught fire after completing a 100m large-size group preliminary race, during the second World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 22.— Reuters
Staff members and a firefighter extinguish the flame on a humanoid robot that caught fire after completing a 100m large-size group preliminary race, during the second World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 22.— Reuters
A staff member wipes the floor after fire extinguishers were used to put out the flame on a humanoid robot that caught fire after completing a 100m large-size group preliminary race, during the second World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 22.— Reuters
A staff member wipes the floor after fire extinguishers were used to put out the flame on a humanoid robot that caught fire after completing a 100m large-size group preliminary race, during the second World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 22.— Reuters
Judges watch a humanoid robot perform at the gymnastics floor exercise competition, during the second World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China August 24.— Reuters
Judges watch a humanoid robot perform at the gymnastics floor exercise competition, during the second World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China August 24.— Reuters
Humanoid robots by Unitree Robotics compete in the 80 kg class kickboxing quarterfinals during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games, at the National Speed Skating Oval, in Beijing, China, on August 23.— Reuters
Humanoid robots by Unitree Robotics compete in the 80 kg class kickboxing quarterfinals during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games, at the National Speed Skating Oval, in Beijing, China, on August 23.— Reuters
A Tiangong humanoid robot takes part in a long jump contest during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games, at the National Speed Skating Oval, in Beijing, China, on August 23.— Reuters
A Tiangong humanoid robot takes part in a long jump contest during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games, at the National Speed Skating Oval, in Beijing, China, on August 23.— Reuters
Staff members use a stretcher to move a humanoid robot after it fell during a 100m large-sized group preliminary race, following the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games, at the National Speed Skating Oval, in Beijing, China, on August 22.— Reuters
Staff members use a stretcher to move a humanoid robot after it fell during a 100m large-sized group preliminary race, following the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games, at the National Speed Skating Oval, in Beijing, China, on August 22.— Reuters
A Galbot humanoid robot dives for the ball during a demonstration of a tennis match with a human player, before the opening ceremony for the second World Humanoid Robot Games, at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 22.— Reuters
A Galbot humanoid robot dives for the ball during a demonstration of a tennis match with a human player, before the opening ceremony for the second World Humanoid Robot Games, at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 22.— Reuters
A Tiangong humanoid robot takes part in a weightlifting contest during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 24.— Reuters
A Tiangong humanoid robot takes part in a weightlifting contest during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 24.— Reuters
A Tiangong humanoid robot takes part in a weightlifting contest, during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 24.— Reuters
A Tiangong humanoid robot takes part in a weightlifting contest, during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 24.— Reuters
A Tiangong humanoid robot takes part in a weightlifting contest during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 24.— Reuters
A Tiangong humanoid robot takes part in a weightlifting contest during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on August 24.— Reuters
A humanoid robot takes part in a dexterous hand block-building contest during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games, at the National Speed Skating Oval, in Beijing, China, on August 23.— Reuters
A humanoid robot takes part in a dexterous hand block-building contest during the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games, at the National Speed Skating Oval, in Beijing, China, on August 23.— Reuters