Humanoid robots drew global attention during China’s 2026 Spring Festival Gala, the country’s most-watched television event, where dozens of machines performed synchronized dances, kung fu routines, and acrobatics alongside human performers without mistakes. Developed by several Chinese robotics firms, the display showed major improvements in coordination and stability compared with previous years, highlighting the rapid progress of China’s robotics industry and its ambition to lead globally in AI-driven manufacturing.
Experts, however, cautioned that such performances are highly choreographed and rehearsed, relying on imitation learning and balance control rather than true understanding of complex environments, meaning they are not yet ready for real-world industrial use. Analysts also interpreted the spectacle as part entertainment and part political messaging, designed to demonstrate China’s technological strength amid competition with the US in AI and robotics, even as concerns remain about future economic, social, and geopolitical implications of increasingly capable humanoid machines.
More information:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/18/china-dancing-humanoid-robots-festival-show