China’s Robot-Makers Rush to Clinch Spring Festival Gala Spotlight
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Galbot has been designated as the official embodied AI robot partner for the China Media Group’s 2026 Spring Festival Gala. Photo: Galbot
Four Chinese robotics companies are preparing for the nationally televised 2026 Spring Festival Gala, enduring grueling rehearsal schedules and invasive background checks to make it onto the country’s most-watched television stage.
A staff member from one of the four companies — Beijing Galbot Co. Ltd., Unitree Robotics, Noetix Robotics and MagicLab — said they are working around the clock to handle on-site adjustments and code changes during rehearsals. The companies have signed deals to showcase their technology at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala.
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- Four Chinese robotics firms, including MagicLab and Unitree, will perform at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala after extensive vetting by China Media Group.
- Participation costs are high: entry fees for a single robot act exceed 100 million yuan, with some fees possibly paid via equity; advertising packages range from 16.99 to 59.99 million yuan.
- Robots will also appear in regional broadcasts and events outside the main gala, such as Agibot Night and a robot combat league.
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Who’s Who
- Beijing Galbot Co. Ltd.
- Beijing Galbot Co. Ltd. is one of four Chinese robotics companies preparing for the 2026 Spring Festival Gala. They have signed a deal to showcase their technology at the event and are currently undergoing rigorous rehearsals and vetting processes. Their participation in the gala has involved significant financial commitments, with CMG's media convergence fund participating in their $300 million financing round in December.
- Unitree Robotics
- Unitree Robotics, a Chinese robotics company, is slated to showcase its technology at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala. Their segment for the gala is titled "New Posture of a Steed." While they did not pay direct fees for past participation, they faced restrictions on using certain titles or trademarks for promotion.
- Noetix Robotics
- Noetix Robotics is one of four Chinese robotics companies preparing for the 2026 Spring Festival Gala. They have signed deals to showcase their technology at the event, which is considered a critical marketing opportunity for consumer-facing companies. CMG's media convergence fund participated in Noetix Robotics’ 300 million yuan financing round in October 2025.
- MagicLab
- MagicLab is one of four Chinese robotics companies preparing to showcase their technology at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala. They, along with Noetix Robotics, are considered consumer-facing companies for whom the gala presents a critical marketing opportunity. MagicLab is reportedly deploying 16 robots to demonstrate "rhythm, coordination, and artistry" during their segment.
- UBTech Robotics Corp. Ltd.
- UBTech Robotics Corp. Ltd. is a Chinese robotics company mentioned in the article as a past participant in the Spring Festival Gala. Unlike the high fees demanded from 2026 participants, UBTech did not pay direct fees but faced restrictions, such as being prohibited from using the "partner" title or the gala's trademark for promotional activities.
- Agibot
- Agibot is a Shanghai-based robotics company that, instead of participating in the 2026 Spring Festival Gala, chose to host its own event called "Agibot Night." This event was broadcast across platforms like Bilibili and Douyin, mimicking a traditional variety show format, as an alternative way to showcase its technology.
- EngineAI
- EngineAI is a Shenzhen-based robotics company. They hosted a humanoid robot combat league on Tuesday, as an alternative to participating in the nationally televised 2026 Spring Festival Gala. This suggests a more pragmatic approach compared to companies vying for a spot on the main gala stage.
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What Happened When
- October 2025：
- CMG’s media convergence fund participated in Noetix Robotics’ 300 million yuan financing round.
- December 2025：
- CMG’s media convergence fund participated in Galbot’s $300 million financing round.
- Monday, February 9, 2026：
- Shanghai-based Agibot hosted its own 'Agibot Night,' broadcasting across platforms like Bilibili and Douyin.
- Tuesday, February 10, 2026：
- Shenzhen-based EngineAI staged a humanoid robot combat league.
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