China’s Humanoid Robots Dazzle Millions at Lunar New Year Gala

At this year’s CCTV Spring Festival Gala, humanoid robots from four Chinese startups took center stage, turning what is usually a night of songs and comedy into a powerful display of the country’s fast-moving robotics industry.

The annual gala, aired on Lunar New Year’s Eve, is China’s most-watched television event, often compared to the Super Bowl in the United States. This year, four companies — Unitree Robotics, MagicLab, Galbot, and Noetix — showcased their humanoid machines in a series of performances that went viral.

One of the most talked-about segments featured more than a dozen Unitree robots performing complex martial arts routines. The humanoids waved swords, poles, and nunchucks… and even imitated the wobbly moves of China’s “drunken boxing” style. 

Noetix robots appeared in a comedy sketch with human actors, while MagicLab’s machines performed synchronized dance routines during a musical number.

A noticeable leap in one year

The contrast with last year’s show was clear. In 2025, Unitree’s humanoids performed a folk Yangko dance, twirling handkerchiefs. This year, the machines executed aerial flips, table-vaulting parkour, continuous single-leg flips, and a 7.5-rotation airflare spin.

“It’s been just one year — and the performance jump is striking,” Georg Stieler, Asia managing director and head of robotics and automation at technology consultancy Stieler, told Reuters. He added that the robots’ motion control reflects advances in their AI “brains,” enabling fine motor skills useful in real-world factory settings.

“What distinguishes the gala from comparable events elsewhere is the directness of the pipeline from industrial policy to prime-time spectacle,” Stieler added. “Companies that appear on the gala stage receive tangible rewards in government orders, investor attention, and market access.”

Industrial ambitions behind the spectacle

Behind the choreography lies a broader national strategy. China has placed robotics and artificial intelligence at the center of its “AI+ manufacturing” push, aiming to boost productivity as its workforce ages.

“Humanoids bundle a lot of China’s strengths into one narrative: AI capability, hardware supply chain, and manufacturing ambition. They are also the most ‘legible’ form factor for the public and officials,” Beijing-based tech analyst Poe Zhao told NBC News. “In an early market, attention becomes a resource.”

Data from research firm Omdia, cited by multiple outlets, shows China accounted for 90% of the roughly 13,000 humanoid robots shipped globally last year. Unitree, which sold around 5,500 robots last year, plans to ship as many as 20,000 humanoid robots this year, according to the company’s chief executive, Wang Xingxing.

Even Elon Musk has acknowledged the competition. “People outside China underestimate China, but China is an ass-kicker next level,” Musk said last month, according to Reuters. He has previously said he expects Chinese companies to be Tesla’s biggest rivals as it develops its Optimus humanoid robot.

The gala spotlight comes as several robotics firms, including AgiBot and Unitree, prepare for stock market listings this year.

The exposure also appears to translate into business results. Global Times reported that robots featured during the live broadcast were listed for sale on JD.com during the show and sold out within minutes, including high-end models priced at hundreds of thousands of yuan.

As China pushes humanoids into the spotlight, Tesla is making moves of its own. Catch up on its Optimus and robotaxi strategy.

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