The organizer of ENJOY AI officially announced in Shanghai on Saturday that the Asia Championship will be held in Haikou, the capital of south China’s Hainan Province, from August 21 to 23, 2026.

ENJOY AI is a global artificial intelligence popularization initiative targeting young people aged 3 to 22, and holds a Guinness World Record for the largest robotics competition in the world.

To date, the event has reached 61 countries and regions and 460 cities worldwide, attracting over one million participants annually and hosting more than 600 science and innovation-related competitions and activities each year.

Haikou, a key area of the Hainan Free Trade Port, was selected as the host city thanks to the city‘s advantages in policy openness, transportation connectivity, combination of culture, sports, and tourism, and long-term operational stability.

The Hainan Free Trade Port’s preferential policies, including visa-free access for travelers from 86 countries and streamlined customs procedures, are expected to facilitate the movements of international participants and equipment, significantly reducing operational costs. Meanwhile, Haikou’s role as a transportation hub enables young science and technology talent from across Asia to gather for exchange and competition.

With vast experience hosting large-scale events and a wide variety of ecological and cultural tourism resources, the city provides a strong foundation for scientific competitions, educational study tours, cultural exchanges, and industrial showcases—helping the event evolve into an international youth science and technology carnival.

Wang Ke, Director of the Haikou Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports Bureau, said Haikou’s hosting of the event supports the Hainan Free Trade Port’s innovation-driven development. Thanks to the city’s well-established event-hosting capabilities, Haikou will capably provide comprehensive services including accommodations, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, dining, and entertainment for participating families.

After the competition, participants are invited to visit local attractions such as the Hainan Museum of Science and Technology, the Haikou Volcano Park, mangrove forests, and historic Qilou streets, combining competition, research-based learning, and island sightseeing. Wang extended a warm invitation to young people from around the world to gather in Haikou.

Natalia Adamowicz, a representative of the ENJOY AI organizing committee, said Haikou’s strengths in transportation, cultural and sports resources, and industry support provide an ideal environment for the internationalization and diversification of the event. She noted that the Asia Championship will create a high-level platform for youth science and technology exchange across Asia, empower young innovators, and further stimulate the vitality of Hainan’s innovation sector.

The event is expected to promote the deep integration of artificial intelligence, youth innovation, and Haikou’s cultural, tourism, and sports industries, helping the city develop into an internationally recognized hub for science and innovation events and adding new momentum to the high-quality development of Hainan Free Trade Port’s cultural and sports industries.