An authoritative competition that has been included for consecutive years on the Ministry of Education's national whitelist for primary and secondary school contests, the 2026 World Robot Contest South China Championship (Sanya) will make its high-profile debut at the Sanya Mangrove International Convention and Exhibition Center from July 20 to 24.

With summer now in full swing, Sanya is bringing this top-tier event, widely known as the “Olympics of robotics,” right to the doorstep of young innovators. This year, the competition is expected to gather tens of thousands of elite young contestants. As a signature initiative for deepening the integration of technology and cultural tourism, and for energizing the summer study-travel market, the event adds rigorous content and official recognition to educational travel through a high-standard, highly immersive competition. Amid Sanya's coconut breezes and coastal scenery, children can gain a rare growth experience: competing while learning, traveling while discovering.

Competition Snapshot: Save the Essentials

Contestants will compete across five core categories, seven major groups, and more than 60 frontier tracks. Artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, mecha battles, air-ground coordination, ecological innovation and more: whether you are a promising newcomer or a seasoned team, there is a dedicated stage here for you.

At last year's inaugural Sanya stop, thousands of teams and nearly 10,000 contestants gathered for hard-core mecha battles and an imaginative “technology + cultural tourism” format, giving the entire Hainan Free Trade Port a vivid sense of the energy of youth-led scientific innovation. Schools applauded it, parents endorsed it, and industry experts found it genuinely thrilling.

One Year Later, the Glory Continues

The Competition Venue Gets a Full Upgrade

Participation scale doubled: Tens of thousands of outstanding contestants will gather, with teams from multiple regions and countries sharing the same stage and broadening their international perspective on science and innovation.

A richer competition system: More than 60 competition directions cover early-age STEM introduction, engineering contests, AI intelligence, open-source innovation, and tracks for all age groups. From primary school to high school, divisions are set by level, giving both newcomers and veteran teams a field of their own.

Professional standards raised across the board: Standardized competition venues, complete professional equipment debugging zones, authoritative judging teams, and a full process spanning opening ceremony, competitive rounds, and awards ceremony will elevate the entire event experience.

A science-and-innovation calling card for the Free Trade Port: Rooted in Sanya's coastal character, the competition incorporates ocean, ecology, and island smart-manufacturing themes, helping young makers understand Hainan through the lens of technology.

A Top-Tier Event Worth the Journey for Every Young Innovator

Authoritative competition, substantial added value for holistic assessment: The event has been included for consecutive years on the Ministry of Education's national whitelist for primary and secondary school contests. Official award certificates can be included in comprehensive quality assessment portfolios, providing real competitive value for school honors, specialty-based advancement, and practical-experience records. Results also support mutual recognition with international competitions. Calling it a highly useful credential is no exaggeration.

Learning through competition, all-around capability growth: From structural assembly and code debugging to tactical planning, teamwork, and on-site problem-solving, this is where students move beyond theory and sharpen engineering thinking, logic, creativity, and innovation through real competition.

Cross-regional exchange, meeting peers who share the same passion: Young makers from across China and overseas meet face to face, exchange ideas, compare solutions, and find like-minded robotics partners through competition while expanding their global view of science and innovation.

A mountain-and-sea arena, unlocking a distinctive competition experience: Imagine this: beside the coconut breeze and blue sea, you finish debugging your robot and step onto the battlefield of a top national competition. Beyond the matches, Sanya's mountains and sea are just outside the door. This summer growth memory will be truly one of a kind. As the host city, Sanya has prepared island scenery, local experiences, and quality finds for everyone, so contestants can compete with full intensity, travel with confidence, and shop with delight.