Chinese humanoid robots competed in a tug-of-war event for the first time at the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Tuesday (August 25).

Split into lightweight and heavyweight categories, teams of two robots faced off in best-of-three contests.

The five-day World Humanoid Robot Games, combine events modelled on human sports with those designed to test the robots in simulated factories, restaurants, offices and in emergency situations.

The games, heavily promoted, featuring 51 events, including 30 sports competitions and 21 scenario-based contests, will conclude on Wednesday (August 26).

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Droids pull their weight in new tug-of-war event at World Humanoid Robot Games

VIDEO SHOWS: HUMANOID ROBOTS COMPETING IN TUG-OF-WAR AT WORLD HUMANOID ROBOT GAMES / HUMANOID ROBOTS COMPETING IN STREET DANCING

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BEIJING, CHINA (AUGUST 25, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. HUMANOID ROBOTS COMPETING IN TUG-OF-WAR, ROBOTS TOPPLING DOWN

2. SPECTATORS AT WORLD HUMANOID ROBOT GAMES

3. VARIOUS OF HUMAN TEAM MEMBERS PREPARING ROBOTS FOR TUG-OF-WAR

4. HUMANOID ROBOTS COMPETING IN TUG-OF-WAR, ROBOTS TOPPLING DOWN

5. TOPPLED ROBOTS ON GROUND

6. WORLD HUMANOID ROBOT GAMES IN PROGRESS

7. VARIOUS OF HUMANOID ROBOT COMPETING IN STREET DANCING EVENT

8. SPECTATORS

9. VARIOUS OF HUMANOID ROBOT COMPETING IN STREET DANCING EVENT

10. HUMANOID ROBOTS COMPETING IN TUG-OF-WAR, ROBOTS TOPPLING DOWN

11. VARIOUS OF HUMANOID ROBOT WALKING