The national skills team represents Finland in World Championship in vocational skills
Team Finland consists of 18 top professionals in their fields. They will face other international experts this autumn in China at the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 competition.
Team Finland 2026. Photo: Skills Finland
Finland’s national team showcases Finnish vocational excellence at the international WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 competition 22–27 September 2026 in China. The team consists of 18 young professionals from across Finland, each competing in one of 18 different skill categories.
In addition to the competitors, the team includes 18 experts and two team leaders. The experts serve as specialists and judges in their respective fields. They are often vocational teachers, and competition training is carried out as part of cooperation between vocational education and working life.
The national skills team prepares for the competition according to individual training plans and by participating in training camps. The team met for the first time at a training camp in Helsinki in March. The next camp will be held this week in Tampere.
“I prepare for the competition by doing challenging practice assignments at school, first at my own pace, and then against the clock. This way, I am able to gain something almost like a real competition experience,” says Jone Holopainen, who competes in Plumbing and Heating.
The national team aims for success at the international level, but the journey toward world-class performance also offers a unique opportunity to develop one’s skills in a diverse way.
“I believe that WorldSkills will be a unique experience, and I want to challenge myself and learn more about my field,” says Erika Taavitsainen, who competes in the Hotel Reception.
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 features a total of 64 skill categories representing various professions in vocational education from practical nurses to welders and from chefs to electricians. The high-level competition brings together up to 1,400 young participants from 70 different countries.
Finland’s team is assembled and sent to the competition by Skills Finland in close cooperation with vocational institutions. Finland’s goal in participating in the WorldSkills competitions is to develop Finnish top-level expertise and promote the internationalisation of vocational education.
The team’s goal-oriented training culminates in Shanghai, where thousands of students gather to test their skills.
“The competition offers a great opportunity to measure your own competence and receive concrete feedback. At the same time, it develops important skills such as stress tolerance, time management and working speed,” says Laura Varis, who competes in Painting and Decorating.
In addition to WorldSkills, the national skills team also participates in the Abilympics and EuroSkills competitions. The next Abilympics will be held in May 2027 in Helsinki, and EuroSkills in September 2027 in Düsseldorf. The Finnish national skills championships, Taitaja, will next be held in May 2026 in Tuusula. Team Finland will also train at the event.
More information
You can follow the Finnish national skills team’s journey toward WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 on our website and social media channels.
Communications Manager Katja Katajamäki, 040 732 0691, katja.katajamaki@skillsfinland.fi.