World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026
by WAIC Organizing Committee (Shanghai Municipal People's Government)
261 AI models, 1,100+ companies, 29-nation WAICO governance body — Shanghai July 2026. Enterprise AI impact and China AI strategy.
About This Event
The World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 is China's largest artificial-intelligence conference and exhibition, held July 17-20, 2026 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center in Shanghai. Now in its ninth edition, WAIC pairs a High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance with a sprawling expo of frontier models, agentic systems, robotics and enterprise AI, drawing hundreds of thousands of visits and 800+ exhibitors.
At a Glance
- Date
- July 17–20, 2026
- Location
- Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, China
- Format
- In-Person
- Event Type
- Conference
- Status
- Completed
- Expected Attendance
- 350,000+
- Pricing
- Paid
- Organizer
- WAIC Organizing Committee (Shanghai Municipal People's Government)
- Added
- Jul 5, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 25, 2026
Topics & Focus Areas
Who Should Attend
- ✓CTOs
- ✓CIOs
- ✓Heads of AI
- ✓Enterprise technology executives
- ✓AI researchers
- ✓Policymakers
- ✓Investors
Why Attend
For CTOs, CIOs and heads of AI, WAIC is the single best vantage point on China's AI trajectory and global governance debate—surfacing the frontier models, agentic and robotics platforms, and regulatory signals that will shape enterprise AI strategy and supply chains.
Event Features
- ✓High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance
- ✓Frontier-model and robotics expo
- ✓Industry forums and application showcases
- ✓Innovation, incubation and awards programs
What Makes This Unique
- ★One of the world's largest AI gatherings (350,000+ visits in 2025)
- ★High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance sets policy direction
- ★800+ exhibitors showcasing 3,000+ exhibits
- ★Government-backed platform for China's AI ecosystem and global players
Industries Represented
Event Scale
Organizer
WAIC Organizing Committee (Shanghai Municipal People's Government)
worldaic.com.cn/Frequently Asked
- When is World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026?
- World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 takes place July 17–20, 2026 in Shanghai, China.
- Where is World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 held?
- World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 is held in Shanghai, China. The event format is in-person.
- How much does World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 cost?
- World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 is paid.
- Who should attend World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026?
- World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 is aimed at CTOs, CIOs, Heads of AI, Enterprise technology executives, AI researchers, Policymakers, Investors.
- What topics does World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 cover?
- World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 covers Global AI governance, Frontier and foundation models, Generative AI, Agentic AI, Embodied AI and robotics, Enterprise AI adoption, AI infrastructure.
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