RoboCup 2026: For the first time, South Korea hosts RoboCup

The world’s largest robotics and AI competition is expected to welcome more than 3,000 participants from around the globe

For the first time in its history, RoboCup, the world’s largest and most prestigious robotics and artificial intelligence competition, will be held in South Korea. RoboCup 2026 will take place from June 30 to July 6, 2026, at Songdo Convensia in Incheon, and is expected to bring together more than 3,000 competitors, researchers, students, and professionals from dozens of countries, as well as 15,000 visitors interested in robotics, to South Korea. The previous edition of the event was hosted in Salvador, Brazil, in 2025.

Often referred to as the “World Cup of Robotics”, RoboCup is a global benchmark for robotics research and innovation. Since 1997, the competition has brought together leading universities, research institutions, and emerging talent, challenging teams to design and program autonomous robots capable of performing complex tasks inspired by real-world scenarios — from robot soccer to domestic service simulations — with no human intervention.

According to Ubbo Visser, President of the RoboCup Federation, bringing the event to South Korea marks a significant milestone for the global robotics community. “Hosting RoboCup 2026 in South Korea represents a powerful step forward for our mission of advancing robotics and artificial intelligence worldwide. Korea has an extraordinary technological ecosystem, and Incheon offers the ideal environment to connect cutting-edge research, industry, and young talent. We are excited to see the global RoboCup community come together here and shape the future of intelligent robotics.”

The local organization of RoboCup 2026 is hosted by the Incheon Metropolitan City, organized by the Korea Association of AI Robot Industry (KAR), in partnership with the Incheon Technopark (ITP), reinforcing Korea’s role as a global hub for innovation, technology, and future industries.

Each league follows its own registration calendar and qualification process leading up to the RoboCup 2026. All the information about leagues, schedules, and participation is available at www.robocup.org.