TECH

At China’s Spring Festival Gala, Robotics Becomes Big Business

Published: Feb. 17, 2026 6:12 a.m. GMT+8

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The martial arts performance at the Spring Festival Gala. Photo: CCTV News

Four Chinese robotics companies seized the spotlight at this year’s CCTV Spring Festival Gala, showcasing kung fu-performing humanoids and a lifelike robotic double of a well-known actress in a prime-time display of the industry’s rapid advances.

The nationally televised performances on Feb. 16, Lunar New Year’s Eve, featured products from Noetix Robotics, Unitree Robotics, MagicLab and Galbot. The robots danced, appeared in comedy sketches and starred in a short film, sharing the stage with A-list celebrities before an audience of hundreds of millions.

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Four Chinese robotics companies performed at the 2024 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, spending over 100 million yuan ($14.5 million) each for exposure.
Featured robots included humanoids, a lifelike actress double, and synchronized robot dogs, with prices ranging from 24,800 to 699,700 yuan on JD.com.
Companies are using the gala for marketing amid strong competition, with Unitree planning a domestic IPO and Galbot valued at $3 billion.

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Who’s Who

Unitree Robotics: Unitree Robotics is a Chinese robotics company that participated in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. Their humanoid robots showcased martial arts routines at the event. The company is preparing for a domestic A-share listing, having achieved 1 billion yuan in revenue in 2024. Their G1 humanoid robot is priced at 84,900 yuan.

Noetix Robotics: Noetix Robotics showcased a bionic robot modeled on actress Cai Ming, featuring 32 motors for facial expressions, at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. While the company's E1 model sells for 79,700 yuan, Noetix is also targeting the consumer market with a robot priced under 10,000 yuan.

MagicLab: MagicLab, also known as 魔坊（北京）科技有限公司, is a Chinese robotics company featured at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. Their quadruped MagicDog robots, dressed as pandas, performed synchronized movements. The MagicDog Pro model is available for 24,800 yuan on JD.com. MagicLab is actively expanding globally, with over 30% of its total revenue coming from international sales.

Galbot: Galbot is one of four Chinese robotics companies that showcased their products at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. Their robot appeared in a short film and demonstrated dexterity by cracking walnuts. Galbot's wheeled robot is priced at 699,700 yuan on JD.com. The company secured a $3 billion valuation in a December 2025 funding round and is reportedly planning a Hong Kong IPO.

UBTech Robotics Co. Ltd.: UBTech Robotics Co. Ltd. (优必选科技) is a Chinese robotics company that has participated in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala four times previously. However, they did not participate in this year's gala due to the high cost of appearance, stating that as a listed company, they prioritize research and development funds.

Shoucheng Holdings Ltd.: Shoucheng Holdings Ltd. is an investment company. Kang Yu, the general manager of its board office, acknowledged the high cost of appearing at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala but supported the decision, stating that the robotics industry needs visibility at its early stage to build trust with partners and consumers. Shoucheng Holdings Ltd. has invested in Unitree and Noetix.

AgiBot: AgiBot, a Shanghai-based robotics company, chose to host its own online event, "AgiBot Night," instead of participating in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. They stated that their budget was better allocated towards research and development rather than the high advertising costs of the gala.

JD.com: JD.com is an e-commerce platform where the robots featured in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala are available for purchase. The robots, from companies like MagicLab, Galbot, Unitree, and Noetix, range in price from 24,800 yuan to 699,700 yuan on the platform.

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What Happened When

After 2024：: Unitree is preparing for a domestic A-share listing after reaching 1 billion yuan in revenue in 2024.

December 2025：: Galbot completed a funding round and secured a valuation of $3 billion.

Feb. 16, 2026：: Four Chinese robotics companies showcased their products at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, featuring robot performances and demonstrations.

AI generated, for reference only