Finland wins gold at the World Championships

Neea Kerttula won gold in Retail Sales.

Every two years held, the WorldSkills Competition concluded today with a spectacular closing ceremony. The WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 competition week began on Monday, September 22, with an opening ceremony, followed by four intensive competition days. The week culminated in the medal ceremony.

Finland was represented by 18 young competitors, all top professionals in their respective fields. The team included a hairdresser, CNC machinist, welder, painter and cook, among others.

The competition brought together 1,400 young competitors from more than 70 countries. The age limit for the competition is 22 years.

Finland achieved an excellent result: one gold medal and eight Medals for Excellence. The Medal for Excellence is awarded to competitors whose performance exceeds the average standard in their skill.

Gold medal:

• Neea Kerttula (Helsinki Business College Oy), Retail Sales

Neea also received the Best of Nation award as Finland’s highest-scoring competitor.

Medal for Excellence:

• Alexander Häggman (Optima), Cabinetmaking
• Eerika Rautiala (Keuda), Beauty Therapy
• Lauri Mutka (Savon ammattiopisto), Welding
• Lotta Lehtokumpu (Luksia), Hairdressing
• Väinö Miettinen (Ammattiopisto Gradia), Cooking
• Elja Saraluoto (Koulutuskeskus Salpaus), Fashion Technology
• Alex Puurunen (Koulutuskuntayhtymä OSAO), Autobody Repair
• Anna Kuivala (Stadin ammattiopisto), 3D Digital Game Art

Team Finland and WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

• The WorldSkills Competition was held in Shanghai, China, from 22 to 27 September 2026.
• Finland participated with an official national team of 18 competitors competing in 18 skills.
• In most skills, competitors must not turn older than 22 during the competition year.
• In addition, 18 Finnish experts took part in the competition as judges and skill specialists. Many of these experts are vocational teachers, and competition training is carried out in cooperation between vocational education and working life.
• WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 featured a total of 64 skills representing a wide range of vocational professions, from practical nursing and welding to cooking and electrical installation.
• A total of 1,400 competitors from 70 countries participated in the competition.
• Team Finland is assembled and sent to the competition by Skills Finland in close cooperation with vocational institutions.
• Finland’s participation in WorldSkills aims to develop world-class expertise and promote the internationalisation of vocational education and training.
• In addition to WorldSkills, Team Finland also competes in the Abilympics and EuroSkills competitions. The next Abilympics will be held in Helsinki in May 2027 and the next EuroSkills in Düsseldorf in September 2027.
• Finland’s national skills competition, Taitaja, will next be held in Helsinki in May 2027.

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