The 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai will feature a record number of newly added skill events — from drone systems to smart security technologies — as organizers seek to reflect industrial shifts and technological advances, Chinese officials said on Friday.

The competition, to be held from Sept 22 to 27, will include 64 skill categories, exceeding 60 for the first time. The seven new events, approved by WorldSkills International, are unmanned aerial systems, digital media interactive design, rail vehicle technology, intelligent security technology, software testing, dental prosthetics and retail sales.

"The addition follows industrial development," said Wu Liduo, director general of occupational capacity building at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and secretary-general of the competition's organizing committee secretariat.

The seven new categories are a direct response to the latest developments in the digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, urban maintenance and public services, he said. Rapid growth in rail transit systems such as high-speed rail and subways, for example, has created a large demand for vehicle maintenance technicians.

The record number of new events is just one of several milestones expected in Shanghai. Organizers said the 2026 WorldSkills Competition, apart from the largest number of skill categories, is also expected to set records for participating countries and regions (more than 70) and competitors (more than 1,400) in the event's 76-year history.

China will field 71 competitors across all 64 events, said Yan Qinghui, vice-minister of human resources and social security and deputy director of the organizing committee.

"We want to use the competition as a platform to foster friendship through skills, allowing the culture of valuing skills to take root and flourish in China," he said.

China currently has more than 220 million skilled workers, including 72 million highly skilled personnel, providing solid support for the country's economic and social development, Yan added.

Organizers also unveiled the medal and mascot designs.

The medals, designed by Shanghai craftsman and artist Zhu Xihua, feature an irregular hexagonal shape inspired by the traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon joint — a woodworking technique that interlocks two pieces without glue or nails.

The mascots "Nengneng" and "Qiaoqiao" — whose names together mean "skilled craftsmen" — are modeled after Shanghai's landmark Oriental Pearl Tower. The blue-and-white Nengneng represents the future of skills, while the red-and-yellow Qiaoqiao embodies vitality. Both wear work uniforms and give a thumbs-up.

Wu compared the skills competition to the soccer World Cup.

"We don't engage in empty theorizing — competitors get their hands dirty fixing actual car faults and machining parts," he said.

Shanghai Vice-Mayor Chen Jie said the competition requires nearly 1 million items, ranging from high-end precision machinery to screws. Sponsors have contributed more than 60 percent of the required items, another record for the WorldSkills Competition.

A smart navigation app will help spectators access events, and more than 3,600 volunteers will provide multilingual services.