Canada to Welcome International Robotics and AI Event
TORONTO, June 18, 2026 – The official launch event for the 31st FIRA RoboWorld Cup & Summit 2026 was held on June 17 at the Markham Pan Am Centre. Hosted by the Canadian National Robotics Society (CNRS), this year’s event will take place from July 17 to 21, 2026, in Markham, Ontario, and is expected to attract more than 1,000 participants and related attendees from over 20 countries and regions to Canada.
The launch event brought together government representatives, community leaders, educators, technology innovation supporters, industry partners and media representatives. Guests who attended and delivered remarks included former Canadian senator Victor Oh, former member of Parliament Paul Chiang, Patrick Li on behalf of MP Jean Yip, Ontario MPP Billy Pang, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti and Markham Ward 6 Councillor Amanda Collucci. Several speakers said that bringing FIRA 2026 to Markham will not only introduce an international robotics competition to Canada, but also support youth STEM education, artificial intelligence innovation and international technology exchange.
FIRA RoboWorld Cup & Summit is one of the major global platforms in robotics and artificial intelligence. It has long been dedicated to providing students, educators, researchers and technology enthusiasts with a space for competition, presentation and exchange. Through robotics competitions, technical challenges, summit discussions and international cooperation, the event encourages the younger generation to learn programming, engineering design, robotic control, artificial intelligence applications and teamwork through hands-on practice.
According to the organizers, this year’s event will include multiple robotics competitions and technology challenges for participants of different ages and skill levels. The program will cover areas such as autonomous driving, drone technology, robotic sports, artificial intelligence innovation and engineering practice. Teams will design, test, control, strategize and respond on site, demonstrating how robots can identify, judge and perform complex tasks.
FIRA Canada Chair and Canadian National Robotics Society Director Samia Karimi said at the launch event that FIRA 2026 is not only a robotics competition, but also a platform that brings together education, innovation and international cooperation. She said the event aims to empower the next generation of technology talent. The FIRA Canada core team and several project representatives also introduced the event’s vision, educational significance and direction for community participation.
FIRA team members and project representatives attending the event included Samia Karimi, Maria Sun, Alireza Vafadar, Jianshu Vera Cui, Majid Galamshahi, Leslie Wong, Melisa Cutler, Rain Lam, Sarah Gulino, Peyman Yousefi and Alireza Saboukhi. The organizers said FIRA 2026 will connect youth technology education, robotics and AI innovation, global cultural exchange and community cooperation, giving local students and families in Canada an opportunity to experience an international technology competition up close.
As an important high-tech city in the Greater Toronto Area, Markham has a strong concentration of technology companies, innovation organizations and diverse community resources. Mayor Frank Scarpitti welcomed FIRA 2026 to Markham and said the event will further showcase the city’s vitality in technology, education and international exchange. Several guests also noted that the event will attract young technology talent, families and educational institutions from around the world to Markham, helping raise the city’s international visibility in robotics and artificial intelligence.
The launch event also received support from several municipal and community representatives. Guests in attendance included Markham Councillors Ritch Lau, Nimisha Patel and Reid McAlpine, Regional Councillor Jim Jones, Councillor and Markham Tourism Chair Andrew Keyes, CCRPA President and Canada-China Realty Foundation Chair Steven Sun, Canada Shenzhen Associations Federation President Jenny Qi, Markham Community Services Commissioner Morgan Jones, Markham Tourism representative Nizar Moosa, Renren Holidays CEO Jeff Qin, and Hua Bao Cha Bao’s Anna Zhou.
Paul Chiang – Former Member of Parliament
For local youth and families, the significance of FIRA 2026 goes beyond watching competitions. Robotics events turn classroom knowledge in mathematics, science, computer studies and engineering into real-world projects, allowing students to understand how technology is applied through design, failure, testing and collaboration. As artificial intelligence and robotics increasingly enter fields such as manufacturing, health care, logistics, education and public services, events like this also provide young people with a window into future career paths.
The organizers said that as the event approaches, more information about the schedule, participating teams, public participation opportunities and event details will be announced. The 31st FIRA RoboWorld Cup & Summit 2026 coming to Canada will bring global innovation in robotics and artificial intelligence to Markham, while creating a new platform for local technology education, youth development and international cooperation.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
