Shanghai half marathon allows humanoid robot entries

Humanoid robots can be entered as special participants at the 2026 Shanghai Yangtze Beach Half Marathon for the first time, organizers announced at a press conference in the city's Baoshan district on Wednesday.

The Nov 15 half marathon has expanded its participant quota to 8,000 runners this year, an increase of 2,000 from the 2025 inaugural edition. A lottery system will be adopted for qualification, with an entry fee of 120 yuan ($17.9) per person. A special course record-breaking award will be introduced this year.

This year's route features a reversed running order compared with last year, while retaining the three signature landscapes of wetland, riverside and industrial sites. Starting from Baosteel, runners will pass through the Baosteel plant area, Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal and multiple riverside landmarks, before finishing at Wusong Paotaiwan Wetland Park. A total of 12.56 kilometers of the 21.0975-km course runs along the Yangtze River waterfront.

"The participation of humanoid robots is our exploration of integrating sports with sci-tech innovation," said Ge Lei, director of the Sports Bureau of Baoshan district.

"And inviting runners with disabilities to compete with paired guides demonstrates our commitment to equality and social inclusion.

"More than just a race, the marathon serves as a window for people to witness Baoshan's urban transformation," Ge added.

Yin Xiaodong, deputy chairman of the labor union at Baosteel, the steel giant co-organizing the event and opening its factory premises to runners, said the company backs the race as a way to showcase its green transformation, and share both its industrial legacy and its human side with the public.

Registration for the event is now open. Runners can sign up via the official WeChat accounts Shanghai Baoshan and Baoshan Sports.

Ma Tan contributed to this story.