The 2026 Shanghai International Exhibition of Senior Care, Rehabilitation Medicine and Healthcare, known as AID 2026, opened at the Shanghai New International Expo Center in the Pudong New Area on Thursday, bringing together nearly 680 companies from 22 countries and regions amid China's booming silver economy.
Founded in 2000, the exhibition is jointly organized by the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau and the Shanghai Council for the Promotion of International Trade. Over the past 26 years, the event has grown into one of China's largest trade platforms focusing on elderly care services, cutting-edge rehabilitation technologies and age-friendly consumer products.
This year's exhibition covers 60,000 square meters across five halls and showcases development in elderly care services, rehabilitation equipment, smart mobility, financial services, nutrition, home living and culture and tourism. It will serve as a platform for product launches, business cooperation and policy discussions tied to the rapidly expanding silver economy.
China's aging population has become a growing focus of national policy. In 2024, the State Council released the country's first dedicated policy document supporting the development of the silver economy, with projections estimating the sector could exceed 30 trillion yuan (US$4.2 trillion) by 2035.
A 1,500-square-meter international pavilion with exhibitors from Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Denmark is featured. The innovation rehabilitation hub creates a simulated home rehabilitation experience zone, while domestic eldercare operators showcase community-based, in-home and medical-elderly integrated care models.
The exhibition features a growing number of robotics and artificial intelligence products designed for elderly users this year. These include guide robot dogs for visually impaired users, AI-powered companion robots, smart mobility devices and consumer-oriented exoskeleton system.
One of the featured products is Dayi, a robotic guide dog developed for visually impaired users that supports multiple navigation modes and obstacle avoidance in both online and offline environments. Another highlight is a smart mobility robot, which incorporates autonomous driving assistance technologies adapted from the automotive sector.
Meanwhile, emotional companion robots are evolving into new virtual family members for senior citizens. An AI companion robot on display delivers heartfelt care through natural voice interaction, physical health tracking and one-touch SOS functions. A multimodal AI health service robot integrates physical checkups, health risk screening, AI teleconsultation and daily companionship to serve as an easily accessible personal health steward for the elderly.
Multiple manufacturers bring a host of exoskeleton products to the exhibition. A knee-assist exoskeleton incorporates precision power components and an AI gait-adaptive algorithm that dynamically adjusts assisting torque according to individual cadence and muscle exertion habits. Another consumer-grade exoskeleton equipped with robust lightweight carbon-fiber frames drastically reduces physical strain for wearers, drawing wide attention.
The AID 2026 Silver Industry Innovation and Development Conference was held at the same time, serving as a supporting event of the exhibition.
It gathered nearly 500 representatives from government authorities, academic institutions, industrial enterprises and financial sectors to exchange insights on cutting-edge trend and practical innovations on China's silver economy.
Topics included silver economy brand standardization, intelligent rehabilitation technology, healthy elderly diet, offline senior service operation, AI-powered health management and healthcare industry development.
As one of China's first megacities to enter deep population aging, Shanghai has developed a comprehensive elderly care service system. The city's ongoing exploration of a megacity governance model for population aging has provided replicable experience and wisdom for national silver economy development.
While the current market is dominated by basic security-oriented elderly services, the new generation of seniors increasingly pursues quality lifestyles that revitalize their lives, setting a transformative direction for the industry's shift from passive elderly support to active senior wellbeing, experts said during the forum.
Participants said that the silver economy has evolved from a livelihood security initiative into a core engine driving economic growth, with vast untapped market potential.
If you go:
Opening hours: 9am-5pm, through June 6
Venue: W1-W5, Shanghai New International Expo Center
Address: 1201 Fangdian Road, Pudong New Area
