Now it is clear that the Professional Championship will come to Stockholm for the first time. On 4 – 6 May 2026 at the Stockholm Fair in Älvsjö, hundreds of professionally skilled young people will compete against each other.
Since 2004, the Professional Championship has gathered thousands of visitors every two years at various locations around Sweden. Over three days, hundreds of professionally skilled young people compete for the title of Swedish champion. There are a total of around 50 professions to become a Swedish master in, for example: painter, woodworker, tile setter, IT technician, web developer, automation technician, welder, hairdresser, cook, assistant nurse or vehicle refinisher.
– We in Region Stockholm are happy and full of anticipation that, together with World Skills Sweden, the city of Stockholm and the other 25 municipalities in our county, we will be able to organize the Vocational Championship in 2026. We are already working intensively to strengthen the role and status of vocational education, this is completely in line with the , says Aida Hadžialić (S), finance regional council, Region Stockholm.
The event creates interest in vocational training, promotes collaboration between school and working life and shows the importance of education for Stockholm’s development as a whole. Region Värmland and Karlstad hosted the Professional Championship 2024. At a closing ceremony on Thursday, the symbolic baton was handed over to Region Stockholm and Stockholm City.
– It feels incredibly fun that Stockholm 2026 can host the Professional Championship, and that young people from all over Sweden can come here and show off all the skills they have. Hopefully, the event can also inspire more young Stockholmers to choose vocational high school in the future. We have a labor market that is crying out for professionally trained labor, and there is so much to be gained in these professions, says Emilia Bjuggren (S), school, labor market and personnel citizen’s council in the city of Stockholm.
During the Vocational Championship, middle school, junior high and high school students, job seekers, career changers and general interested people meet. Admission is free and visitors can watch the competitions, ask questions and try different professions themselves.
FACTS
- The Professional Championship has been arranged every two years since 2004 at various locations around Sweden. The event attracts thousands of visitors and is open to everyone with free entry. The audience record is from Växjö 2022 with 22,403 visitors.
- On site, you can watch as Sweden’s most skilled young people compete for the SM titles in a variety of different professions. Visitors have the opportunity to discover, explore and try professions and professional aspects.
- Examples of participating professions are painters, woodworkers, tilers, IT technicians, web developers, automation technicians, welders, hairdressers, cooks, assistant nurses, vehicle refinishers and more.
- During the Vocational Championship, Sweden’s most professionally skilled young people are selected who then have the opportunity to take a place in Sweden’s most important national team – the Vocational National Team.
- The purpose of the Vocational Championship is to increase knowledge and awareness of the different career paths that exist within the field of vocational education and to raise its status
Press contact
Naomi Grossman
076 122 92 53
[email protected]
