Game of Cranes returns: Liebherr seeks world’s best crane operator

Nominations open on 1 October

After a well-received first edition, Liebherr is bringing back Game of Cranes, its worldwide search for the best mobile crane operator. From 1 October to 13 November 2026, companies can put forward their operators through an online form, submitted by the administrator of the firm’s MyLiebherr account. The competition is open to Liebherr mobile crane customers around the globe, and the manufacturer is pitching it as a stage for the operators themselves as much as for the companies that invest in their training.

Nominated operators then receive a link to upload a photo and an application video, also by 13 November. Whether the footage shows a compact two-axle machine or a 1,200-tonne heavyweight at work, it is the quality of the deployment that counts.

Community vote plus expert panel

All valid applications go into a public community vote, while a Liebherr expert panel assesses the same submissions in parallel. The combined scores produce the overall ranking, and the more votes a video gathers, the better its operator’s chances of progressing.

The top five operators in each region advance to one of five regional qualifying rounds, staged at Liebherr locations around the world. There, entrants face practical challenges modelled on real operating conditions, competing on behalf of their employers. Each regional winner books a ticket to the international final.

Final in Ehingen in June 2027

The five finalists will meet in Ehingen, Germany, in June 2027, where safety, dexterity and technical understanding decide the title. The final is scheduled during Liebherr’s Customer Days, with more than 3,000 crane enthusiasts expected to watch. Reigning champion Scott White of City Lifting will be on hand to pass on his experience before a new number one is crowned.

Beyond the title, the top three finishers earn Liebherr Shop vouchers for their companies: €2,500 for first place, €1,250 for second and €500 for third, with no expiry date. The winning operator’s employer, meanwhile, can claim to have the world’s best mobile crane operator on its payroll.