MingleMakers UG has announced the launch of the
WeldArt World Championship (WAWC), a new international competition developed in association with the
International Institute of Welding (IIW), aimed at showcasing both the technical skill and creative potential of modern welding.
The initiative builds on the success of the
Urban Steel Rockstars (USR) platform and is designed to reposition welding as a contemporary, creative and highly visible trade. Organisers say the competition will move beyond traditional industrial perceptions, placing equal emphasis on craftsmanship and artistic identity.
Based in Vreden, Germany, MingleMakers said the championship will combine live events with a strong digital strategy to maximise global engagement. The platform will bring together leading metalworking creators and influencers, with a combined social media reach of more than 10 million followers, creating what the company describes as a “global marketing engine” for the sector.
Central to the competition is a dual approach comprising an expert judging panel and a wider digital community. The “Jury of Giants” will consist of established industry figures responsible for assessing technical excellence, while an international network of ambassadors and content creators will drive online engagement and audience participation. This will include live fan voting and interaction across multiple regions, including Europe, North America and Asia.
MingleMakers believes the format offers benefits across the welding ecosystem, from individual fabricators to major suppliers. The competition aims to provide welders and metal artists with an international platform to showcase their work, while enabling manufacturers and equipment providers to connect with emerging talent and demonstrate products in an authentic, workshop-led context.
The initiative is also intended to support industry bodies and training organisations in addressing ongoing skills shortages by promoting welding as an attractive and future-facing career. By increasing visibility and highlighting the creative aspects of the trade, the organisers hope to attract younger entrants into the profession.
The competition will begin with an online qualification phase, requiring entrants to produce a two-dimensional version of the official WAWC logo from a 40 x 40cm sheet of 3mm stainless steel. Successful participants will then progress to live stages at major international exhibitions.
The round of 16 is scheduled to take place at FABTECH in Las Vegas in October 2026, with the final set for April 2027 at the Urban Steel Expo in Düsseldorf.
MingleMakers said the WAWC would establish “a new global standard in craft and creativity”, underlining its ambition to modernise perceptions of welding and strengthen its appeal to a new generation of skilled professionals.