China's Humanoid Robots to Star in Lunar New Year Gala, Showcasing AI+ Manufacturing Push

Four Chinese humanoid startups—Unitree Robotics, Galbot, Noetix, and MagicLab—will showcase their robots during the CCTV Spring Festival Gala on February 16, 2026, highlighting Beijing's AI+ manufacturing strategy. Last year, 16 Unitree humanoids danced with performers, following a meeting between Unitree's founder and President Xi at a tech symposium. Xi has met five robotics founders in the past year, signaling policy support. The gala boosts government orders, investor attention, and market access for participating firms. China accounted for 90% of global humanoid shipments (about 13,000 units) in 2025, with Morgan Stanley projecting sales to double to 28,000 units in 2026. Startups are integrating AI models for improved perception and natural language understanding, with deployments in CATL factories and Vietnam border logistics.