19th April 2026 – (Beijing) The 2026 Humanoid Robot Half Marathon got under way in Beijing’s Yizhuang district on 19th April, jointly organised by the Beijing Municipal Government and China Central Television. The event follows the inaugural global humanoid robot half-marathon held on 19th April 2025, also in Yizhuang, where Tiangong Ultra, backed by China Asset Management, claimed victory with a finishing time of two hours, 40 minutes and 42 seconds.
Organisers said this year’s competition marks a significant expansion in scale, participation and technological capability. More than 100 teams have entered — nearly five times the number that competed in the debut race. Participating regions have increased from five provinces to 13, with a team from Hong Kong taking part for the first time.
A new autonomous navigation category has been introduced, with self‑navigating robots competing alongside remotely controlled entries on the same course under a combined timing system. The route itself has also been made more demanding, incorporating additional turns and steeper gradients.
More than 32,000 human runners have registered for associated events, setting a new participation record. The competition has drawn strong interest from technology firms, research institutions and universities specialising in scientific innovation, with over 100 humanoid robot teams racing head‑to‑head in what organisers describe as a showcase of advanced robotics.