The spotlight at this year's Spring Festival Gala wasn't reserved solely for performers and celebrities, as a lineup of cutting-edge humanoid robots made their highly anticipated debut, generating waves of adulation on social media at home and abroad, and sending consumer interest in homemade bots to a new high.

During the Spring Festival Gala, or Chunwan, robots from industry leaders including Noetix Robotics, Unitree Robotics, MagicLab, and Galbot took the stage.

The impact on the robotics market was immediate. Data from JD.com revealed that within two hours of the broadcast by the China Media Group, searches for robots on the platform surged by 300 percent, customer service inquiries increased by 460 percent, and order volume jumped by 150 percent. New robot orders came from over 100 cities nationwide, spanning both major metropolitan areas and smaller towns.

The event marked the latest milestone in the story of China's humanoid robotics industry. According to GGII, domestic shipments of humanoid robots are projected to have been around 18,000 units in 2025, a nearly 650 percent increase from 2024. By 2026, the number is expected to grow to 62,500 units.

A standout performance during the Gala came from MagicLab, which showcased its MagicBot Gen1 and MagicBot Z1 robots. These machines weren't just limited to entertaining. They demonstrated real-world applications in food service. A MagicBot Gen1 took on the role of a "noodle chef," while a MagicBot Z1 acted as a "food delivery worker".

MagicLab co-founder Gu Shitao said, "We want the public to see that robots are not just performers but capable, intelligent partners, showing the world that 'Created in China' is accelerating its journey to the global stage."

Meanwhile, robots from Galbot, another rising player in the robotics space, impressed viewers with their precision. The robots, equipped with the "AstraBrain" large-model AI, displayed dexterity in tasks like sorting and folding clothes.

Galbot, founded in 2023, raised $300 million in Dec 2025, bringing its valuation to $3 billion. It is already making inroads in commercial, industrial, and medical applications.

Noetix Robotics also turned heads with its lineup of humanoid robots. The company worked with renowned actress Cai Ming on the stage. It was also the first time humanoid robots appeared in a language-based program.

The robots' bionic facial features, driven by a compact motor system, allowed for highly realistic facial movements, including eye and mouth gestures. The company plans to mass-produce these bionic robots with prices of its Bumi robots starting from 9,988 yuan ($1,445.7).

Meanwhile, Unitree Robotics demonstrated its prowess with its G1 robot in the program "Martial BOT". The robots presented martial arts moves and displayed advanced capabilities like obstacle avoidance and acrobatic back-flips.

This was Unitree's third appearance on the Gala stage. With shipments of humanoid robots exceeding 5,500 units by the end of 2025, the company's annual revenue surpassed 1 billion yuan, with profits rolling in for five consecutive years.

wangzhuoqiong@chinadaily.com.cn