Robots enter the World Cup, shifting how large-scale events are run and experienced
Updated
April 8, 2026 10:35 AM
Hyundai Motor Company Dealership, Alabama, US. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
As the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches, attention is beginning to shift beyond the matches themselves to how an event of this scale is organised and run. Managing teams, coordinating venues and handling large crowds requires a system that works with precision. This time, robotics is set to become part of that system.
Hyundai Motor Company, a long-time FIFA partner, is expanding its role for the 2026 tournament. Alongside its traditional responsibility of providing vehicles for teams, officials and media, the company will introduce robotics in collaboration with Boston Dynamics. Robots including Atlas and Spot are expected to be deployed at selected venues.
According to the announcement, these systems will be used to support tournament operations while contributing to safety and efficiency. They will also play a role in shaping how fans experience the event, indicating a broader use of technology within the tournament environment. While specific use cases have not been detailed, the inclusion of robotics reflects a growing effort to integrate advanced systems into large-scale public events.
The direction was introduced through the company’s global campaign, “Next Starts Now,” unveiled at the 2026 New York International Auto Show. The campaign is positioned around its wider focus on innovation across mobility and robotics, aligning with its long-standing partnership with FIFA, which now spans more than two decades. As part of the 2026 tournament, the company will also deploy its largest mobility fleet to date, working alongside these newer systems across venues.
Beyond operations, the initiative extends into community engagement. Youth football camps are set to take place across four host cities in the United States—Atlanta, Miami, New Jersey and Los Angeles—targeting children between the ages of six and twelve. A global drawing programme will also invite young fans to submit artwork supporting their national teams, with selected designs to be featured on official team buses during the tournament.
Taken together, the introduction of robotics alongside existing infrastructure points to a gradual shift in how major events are supported. Rather than operating only behind the scenes, technology is becoming more visible within the event itself. How these systems perform in a live, large-scale setting will become clearer once the tournament begins.
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From TV to YouTube, the Oscars’ global shift reveals how entertainment, access and platforms are reshaping cultural institutions.
Updated
January 8, 2026 6:29 PM
Youtube app on a mobile device. PHOTO: UNSPLASH
The Oscars are moving to YouTube. Beginning in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has signed a multi-year agreement that makes YouTube the exclusive global home of the Oscars through 2033. From the ceremony itself to red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes access and the Governors Ball, the entire experience will live on a platform most people already open every day.
On the surface, it looks like a distribution shift. In reality, it signals a broader strategic reset. For decades, television delivered scale for cultural institutions. Today, reach and discovery live on platforms, not channels. By choosing YouTube, the Academy is quietly acknowledging that cultural relevance today is built where audiences already are. In that context, YouTube is no longer just a place to watch clips but an emerging piece of cultural infrastructure.
What also stands out is how the Oscars are being reframed. This partnership is not limited to one night a year. Alongside the ceremony, YouTube will host year-round Academy programming through the Oscars YouTube channel. That includes nominations announcements, the Governors Awards, the Student Academy Awards, the Scientific and Technical Awards, filmmaker interviews, podcasts and education programs. Instead of a single broadcast moment, the Oscars are turning into an always-on ecosystem.
Accessibility is another central pillar of the deal. The Oscars will be free to watch globally, supported by closed captioning and audio tracks in multiple languages. This is less about nice-to-have features and more about staying relevant in a global, digital-first world. Younger audiences and viewers outside traditional Western markets expect access by default. The Academy is clearly building with that expectation in mind.
There is also a deeper exchange happening between heritage and technology. YouTube gains cultural weight by hosting one of the world’s most established creative institutions. The Academy, in turn, gains technological legitimacy and a clearer path into the future.
That balance extends to how the transition is being handled. The Academy’s domestic broadcast partnership with Disney ABC will continue through the 100th Oscars in 2028 and the international arrangement with Disney’s Buena Vista International remains in place until then. This is not an abrupt break from legacy media but a carefully phased shift. Change is being managed without burning bridges.
“We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round Academy programming,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor. “The Academy is an international organization and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible — which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community. This collaboration will leverage YouTube’s vast reach and infuse the Oscars and other Academy programming with innovative opportunities for engagement while honoring our legacy. We will be able to celebrate cinema, inspire new generations of filmmakers and provide access to our film history on an unprecedented global scale.”
From YouTube’s side, the partnership places the platform firmly in the center of global cultural moments. “The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions, honoring excellence in storytelling and artistry,” said Neal Mohan, CEO, YouTube. “Partnering with the Academy to bring this celebration of art and entertainment to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.”
Google Arts & Culture extends the partnership beyond the ceremony. Select Academy Museum exhibitions and materials from the Academy’s 52-million-item collection will be made digitally accessible worldwide, bringing film history and education onto the same platform.
Taken together, the deal is less about where the Oscars will stream and more about how cultural institutions are adapting to the changing landscape. The Academy is positioning itself to be present year-round, globally accessible and aligned with the platforms that shape everyday viewing.