A large number of humanoids (human-shaped robots) will take the stage at Chunwan (春晚), China's biggest Lunar New Year gala program. A total of four Chinese robot corporations are set to demonstrate their technology on a national broadcast. As multiple humanoids join the Chunwan stage again this year following last year, they are expected to showcase more advanced movements and technology than before.
According to Chinese business outlet Caixin and the state-run Global Times on the 30th, China Media Group (CMG), which oversees Chunwan production, has selected four robot companies as official partners ahead of next month's Lunar New Year holiday broadcast.
Chunwan is a cultural event that represents Chunje (春节), China's Lunar New Year, and first aired in 1983. In China, families typically gather at home to watch Chunwan together as a hallmark New Year custom. Chunwan has also served as a platform through which the government conveys future industry directions to the public, staging national undertakings such as reform and opening-up, space development, and poverty eradication.
For this reason, being named an official Chunwan partner carries meaning beyond a simple TV appearance for corporations. Because they can showcase technology on a stage watched by more than 1 billion people, it is not only a chance to raise public awareness but also a Critical opportunity to build references that prove technological credibility for future projects in the public institutional sector or at state-owned enterprises.
The first company to showcase humanoid technology at this year's Chunwan is Unitree (宇树科技). This is the third collaboration with Chunwan; its humanoid performance at last year's gala generated major buzz. According to the Global Times, a Unitree official said, "This year's performance will go beyond simple dancing or somersaults to feature movements on par with acrobatics."
Unitree first made its name with quadruped robots and recently expanded into humanoids. It drew attention by demonstrating "humanoid martial arts" at various tech expos in China and at events such as CES 2026 in the United States. Unitree is building real-world use cases, including supporting sports events and deployments at exhibition and logistics sites, and is currently preparing for an initial public offering (IPO).
Beijing-based robot specialist Galbot (银河通用) is participating as an "embodied AI robot" partner. Galbot operates "robot salesperson" services at tourist spots such as the Summer Palace in Beijing, Wangfujing, and Chunxilu in Chengdu. Robots serve customers at counters in place of people, handing over products and providing drinks. In logistics warehouses across China, they perform autonomous picking and packing. The company recently raised more than $300 million (about 431.3 billion won), and its valuation is estimated at $3 billion (about 4.314 trillion won).
Noetix (松延动力), which leads with a "cost-effectiveness" strategy, is also participating. Noetix launched the small humanoid "Bumi (小布米)," 94 centimeters tall and weighing 12 kilograms, at 9,998 yuan (about 2.07 million won) targeting the home education and experience market. The company secured a mass-production base by raising a total of 500 million yuan (about 103.6 billion won) in October–November last year.
Magiclab (魔法原子), the final participant, is focusing on industrial site use. Founded in Jan. 2024 as a startup corporation, the company's humanoid "Magic Bot" can be trained to perform tasks such as material transport, parts picking, and scanning on factory production lines. Magiclab is also developing a quadruped robot that operates in extreme climates.
The Global Times cited Zhao Mingguo, head of the robot control laboratory at Tsinghua University, as saying, "Unitree has world-class humanoid motion control algorithms," and, "Magiclab has independently developed more than 90% of its core hardware, including joint modules, robot hands, and reducers, and adopted a dual structure that separates the 'brain,' which handles complex task planning, from the 'cerebellum,' which manages real-time motion control." On Galbot, the assessment was that it "pioneered a training pipeline that combines simulation data with small amounts of real-world data."
Still, some note that evaluations of humanoid technology should focus on whether it can be applied to industrial sites beyond performances. Chinese tech outlet 36kr said, "Unitree's 2025 Chunwan performance fired up the capital markets, and although multiple corporations jumped into competition for this year's Chunwan stage, audience reactions are gradually dulling. As scenes of robots running, dancing, and somersaulting are repeated, the assessment that 'they're just big toys in the end' is gaining traction," adding, "The decisive turning point will be on the industrial floor."