Chinese humanoid robots take Lunar New Year demo spotlight shows
Humanoid robots move from labs to public stages
Chinese humanoid robot manufacturers used the Lunar New Year holiday period to stage highly visible demonstrations, positioning entertainment performances as a way to validate technical maturity and attract commercial interest. Shanghai-based startup Agibot led the push with a live-streamed variety show featuring humanoid robots dancing, performing acrobatics, lip-syncing songs, and taking part in comedy sketches.
2026 Humanoid Robot Market Report
160 pages of exclusive insight from global robotics experts – uncover funding trends, technology challenges, leading manufacturers, supply chain shifts, and surveys and forecasts on future humanoid applications.
Featuring insights from
Aaron Saunders, Former CTO of
Boston Dynamics,
now Google DeepMind
2026 Humanoid Robot Market Report
160 pages of exclusive insight from global robotics experts – uncover funding trends, technology challenges, leading manufacturers, supply chain shifts, and surveys and forecasts on future humanoid applications.
The event, which ran for nearly an hour, was framed as both public entertainment and a capability showcase. According to the company, the robots executed pre-scripted routines that combined full-body motion, balance control, and coordinated arm and hand movements, areas that remain challenging for general-purpose humanoid platforms.
Entertainment as a proxy for technical progress
While the performances were designed for mass audiences, the underlying objective was to demonstrate reliability, repeatability, and expressive motion. Industry observers note that sustained dancing and acrobatic sequences stress-test actuators, joint control, and power management, even when routines are choreographed in advance.
Other Chinese humanoid developers also used the holiday period for public demos, with robots appearing at shopping centers, televised events, and promotional broadcasts. Manufacturers view these appearances as a way to differentiate in an increasingly crowded domestic market and to signal readiness for broader pilot deployments.
Commercial context and next steps
China has identified humanoid robotics as a strategic growth sector, with startups and established robotics firms racing to move beyond prototypes. Although entertainment remains a limited use case, companies argue that the same hardware and control systems can be adapted for roles such as reception, guided retail, light logistics, and inspection.
For now, most deployments remain experimental, with questions around cost, autonomy, and long-term durability still open. However, the Lunar New Year showcases highlight how manufacturers are using public demonstrations to bridge the gap between research platforms and commercial humanoid robots.
Source: The Times of India via Reuters
