This year, Unitree’s humanoid machines stole the spotlight during the Monday night’s Spring Festival Gala on CCTV as they performed fully autonomous kung fu routines, launched themselves off trampolines, and sprinted at high speeds.
Chief executive Wang Xingxing revealed to domestic tech outlet 36Kr that Unitree plans to ship between 10,000 and 20,000 humanoid robots in 2026, an increase from approximately 5,500 units delivered last year. The projection positions the Chinese manufacturer at the vanguard of what Wang anticipates will be a breakout year for the industry, with global humanoid robot shipments potentially reaching “tens of thousands” of units.
This aired tonight to 1 billion people in China. A year ago these robots could barely wave a handkerchief, now they can do backflips and kung fu with nunchucks. Physical intelligence is the next frontier. pic.twitter.com/xFasDuGgRx
— Tristan (@Tristan0x) February 16, 2026
According to sources, this marks Unitree’s second consecutive appearance at the annual Lunar New Year gala. Last year’s robots demonstrated basic movements that captivated audiences simply through novelty. This year’s showcase revealed machines capable of executing complex martial arts sequences entirely without human control.
“The kung fu segment was performed fully autonomously by its G1 robots,” the company confirmed.
The performance delivered what Unitree described as several industry milestones. The robots achieved trampoline somersaults reaching three meters in height and demonstrated high-speed running capabilities of up to four meters per second, roughly 14 kilometers per hour.
Wang emphasized their practical implications for commercial deployment. “These innovations are very practical and will facilitate large-scale group deployment of robots in the future,” he told 36Kr.
Even a robot’s tumble during the routine served a purpose. Rather than representing a malfunction or embarrassing mishap, Wang clarified that the fall “had been pre-planned as part of the routine,” suggesting confidence in the machines’ ability to recover and continue operating.
Unitree’s projected shipment volumes signal a potential inflection point where humanoid robots transition from experimental curiosities to commercially viable products. Scaling production from several thousand units to potentially 20,000 within a single year requires not just refined technology but robust manufacturing processes, supply chain coordination, and sustained customer demand—factors that have challenged robotics companies historically.
