The high-profile displays arrived alongside tightening international trade restrictions, as manufacturers push to move sophisticated robotics beyond novelty demonstrations and into commercial operations.
Unitree, Xiaomi Lead Humanoid Robot Showcases at IFA 2026
Chinese robotics manufacturers deployed a massive contingent of humanoid and quadruped machines across the exhibition halls at Messe Berlin, drawing heavy foot traffic and mixed visitor reactions. Xiaomi’s humanoid robot CyberOne demonstrated interactive capabilities, completing half-hearts with visitors’ hands and responding to fist bumps. Although showcased on the convention floor, CyberOne’s primary operational environment is inside an electric vehicle factory where its nut-fastening success rate reaches 98 percent, according to a Xiaomi spokesperson.
Nearby, several units of G1, Unitree’s humanoid model, danced in formation to music. Their movements were not always smooth, with some robots swaying unsteadily or struggling to keep pace with one another. With IFA expanding its showcase of emerging technologies such as AI and robotics, Chinese-made robots were displayed prominently throughout the exhibition hall. This year’s IFA Next, a dedicated innovation and startups ground, was the largest humanoid robot exhibition in the show’s history. Unitree’s robots demonstrate a range of movements, including dancing and boxing.
A humanoid robot CyberOne exchanges a fist bump with a visitor at the Xiaomi booth at IFA 2026 in Berlin on Sept. 4. When a visitor formed half of a heart with their hand, Xiaomi’s humanoid robot CyberOne reached out its arm and completed the other half. When another guest put out their fist for a first bump, the robot obliged. We are testing its potential for use on manufacturing floors,
a Xiaomi spokesperson said, adding that the company is accelerating efforts to automate its factories.
Emotional Care Models and Factory Automations Emerge in Beijing
Simultaneously, the five-day 2026 World Robot Conference, which started on Wednesday, featured companion models equipped with realistic facial expressions and conversational skills. On the day the conference kicked off, the world’s biggest humanoid robot maker Unitree Robotics made its stock market debut in Shanghai. The Chinese firm’s machines are competing in the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games, which started on Saturday in the capital. The event involves more than 2,000 robots from 16 countries.
Staff members stand near humanoid robots during the 2026 World Robot Conference, in Beijing. Whether you are curious to see if a robot can fold clothing, interested in acquiring a four-legged robotic dog or emotional companion, or simply keen to watch machines box and dance, Beijing is currently the capital city to visit. China kicked off its 2026 World Robot Conference on Wednesday, with domestic firms showcasing the country’s expanding robotics sector as developers seek to transition technology beyond mere stage demonstrations and into practical factory applications. Organisers say roughly 3,000 products will be showcased across the five-day event.
Nevertheless, despite the international framing implied by the conference’s title, no foreign exhibitors were present at the venue. One major draw on Wednesday was the display hosted by Unitree, one of China’s premier humanoid robot manufacturers, whose models boxed and danced for spectators. One unit even engaged in a ping pong match against a human. A model shows her fancy dressed up robotic dogs at a booth during the World Robot Conference at the Beiren Yichuang International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Beijing, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. Visitors watch a humanoid robot at a booth.
Regulatory Pressures and Market Expansion Across Europe and Asia
The Beijing robotics conference opened weeks after the US Federal Communications Commission announced a decision regarding foreign-made hardware.
Despite trade hurdles, Chinese companies maintained a heavy presence at IFA 2026, Europe’s largest consumer electronics show, which opens Friday and runs through Tuesday at Messe Berlin in Germany. The event expands beyond home appliances into robots and AI semiconductors, featuring a record 932 Chinese companies joining this year’s show. IFA 2026 is expected to draw 220,000 visitors from 140 countries, with more than 1,900 companies from 49 countries setting up exhibition booths. Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, South Korea’s two leading home appliance makers, emphasize everyday AI experiences as they navigate uncertainty from weakening global appliance demand and cost pressures.
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