Momentum is mounting among the drone sports community in anticipation of The World Games 2025 in the People's Republic of China, with competition dates and venues officially announced. Air sports have been part of The World Games since 1997, and 2025 will be no exception, with dazzling drone racing contests taking place in Chengdu over three days of fast-paced competition next August.

The thrilling drone racing events at The World Games will see 32 competitors put on a mind-blowing display for audiences as they pilot their brightly-lit FPV (first person view) drones in high speed races of technical skill and agility between 14-16 August 2025 at the Dong'an Lake Sports Park, Chengdu. 

The proposed schedule also includes a day prior to the competition start for model processing, pilots' track walk-through and practice time. 

• Competition dates: Thursday 14th, Friday 15th and Saturday 16th August 2025
• Competition venue: Secondary stadium at Dong'an Lake Sports Park, Chengdu

The International World Games Association (IWGA) released the information on 21 May to coincide with the 44th anniversary of its foundation. 

Competition details

Drone racing made its The World Games debut in 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, and is set to wow audiences once again in 2025 as the 32 pilots who qualify weave their LED-lit drones around obstacles in the futuristic stadium at speeds of over 160km/hour. 

The drone racing will feature single classification for the pilots, with men and women competing together. Drone racing attracts a significant number of junior participants, as evidenced in the results of the FAI World Drone Racing Championships, which form part of the qualification for The World Games alongside the FAI Drone Racing World Cup. The 2024 FAI World Drone Racing Championship will take place in China, in the city of Hangzhou.

Qualification for drone racing at The World Games 2025 will end on 31 December 2024, with ranking lists announced by 1 February 2025. Qualified pilots will have until 30 April 2025 to confirm their place, after which any vacant slots will be allocated. 

The drone racing champions at The World Games 2022, USA. Image credit: Greg Pyzalka

About The World Games in Chengdu

The 12th edition of this global multisports event in the mega city of Chengdu will feature 61 disciplines across the 35 sports. Eight competition clusters around the city will use a total of 28 venues featuring state-of-the-art infrastructures. The Chengdu 2025 Organising Committee has proposed sports facilities that are up to the highest international standards, promising optimum conditions for over 4000 athletes who will compete. Eight of the confirmed venues were used for events at the FISU World University Games during summer 2023.

Dong'an Lake Sports Park Stadium is made up of one stadium and three gymnasiums, and was designed by the award-winning architects to resemble a Sun Bird and a Flying Saucer, comprising a 40,000-seat stadium, an 18,000-seat multi-functional gymnasium plus swimming and diving centres and a small ball arena. 

Chengdu is the capital of southwestern China's Sichuan province and dates back to the 4th Century BC. It is home to the famous Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and pandas are a proud mascot for the city, and for this reason you will spot a panda featuring in the logo for The World Games 2025!

Pandas born at the panda breeding station in Chengdu, China. Image: Pascal Müller

Header photo credit: KAMA/Yong-chan NAM from 2023 FAI Korea Drone Racing World Cup.