RoboCup 2026 to Be Held in Incheon This July... Organizing Committee Launched

The "RoboCup 2026," the world's largest artificial intelligence (AI) robotics competition, will be held for the first time in South Korea this July in Incheon.

On January 21, the Incheon Metropolitan Government held an inauguration ceremony for the RoboCup 2026 Incheon Organizing Committee at City Hall, officially beginning preparations for the event.

The organizing committee is chaired by Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeongbok, with Kim Jin-oh, President of the Korea AI & Robotics Industry Association, and Ryu Jiho, Acting President of the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement, serving as co-chairs. In addition, more than 20 experts from industry, academia, and research institutions are participating as committee members, overseeing all aspects of the event's operation until December.

RoboCup has been held annually since its first competition in Nagoya, Japan, in 1997. Since 2002, the addition of the humanoid league, where robots kick a ball on two legs like humans, has increased its popularity.

This is the first time that RoboCup will be held in South Korea, with this year's event taking place in Incheon. RoboCup 2026 will be held from July 1 to 6 at Songdo Convensia, and it is expected that 15,000 people, including delegations from 45 countries, officials, and spectators, will visit Incheon.

The competition will feature five categories: robot soccer, disaster rescue, home service, industrial automation, and a junior league. There will also be contests showcasing AI robot technologies, a corporate exhibition, and academic events. The city has formed a RoboCup task force led by the Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs and plans to operate tourism programs in collaboration with the Incheon Tourism Organization and related agencies.

The city intends to utilize RoboCup as a core platform to simultaneously secure leadership in AI and humanoid robot technologies, foster future talent, and strengthen the robotics industry ecosystem. In particular, Incheon expects positive ripple effects for attracting companies and nurturing the robotics industry by leveraging its airport, port, and logistics infrastructure, as well as Incheon Robot Land.

Mayor Yoo Jeongbok stated, "As the first RoboCup to be held in South Korea, this event will serve as an opportunity to establish Incheon as a global leader in robotics and AI," adding, "We will thoroughly prepare to make this the best robotics festival, enjoyed by both participating teams and citizens."