Humanoid robots stole the spotlight at China’s 2026 Spring Festival Gala with kung-fu moves, sparking awe and debate about the future.

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Humanoid robots from Chinese makers like Unitree Robotics, Galbot, MagicLab, and Noetix performed kung fu, backflips, and comedy sketches at China's 2026 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, marking a dramatic leap from last year's clunky robot appearances. The performances went viral and were framed by Chinese state media as proof of rapid progress in humanoid robotics, aligned with China's 'AI+manufacturing' industrial ambitions. Experts caution that current humanoids still rely on pre-programmed movements and lack true autonomous adaptability, but the spectacle successfully thrust robotics into the public imagination and signals to investors and rival nations that humanoid robots are now prime-time technology.

When robots outshine humans, I have to ask: Are we ready?