Kung fu, somersaults and scale: Unitree eyes 20,000-robot output in 2026 after gala

China’s Unitree Robotics plans to ship as many as 20,000 humanoid robots this year, up from about 5,500 in 2025, according to chief executive Wang Xingxing, after the company drew global attention with its appearance at Monday night’s Spring Festival Gala.

Speaking to domestic tech outlet 36Kr after the show, Wang said global humanoid robot shipments could reach “tens of thousands” this year, with Unitree accounting for roughly 10,000 to 20,000 units of that total.

The projection follows another high-profile showing at the annual Lunar New Year gala by state broadcaster CCTV, where Unitree’s machines again became a focal point.

The company first captured mainstream attention at last year’s event, when its robots demonstrated basic movements; this year’s performance showcased a significant leap in capability.

The Hangzhou-based firm’s humanoid robots executed complex martial arts routines, leapt from trampolines and climbed walls, underscoring rapid progress over the past 12 months.

Unitree said the kung fu segment was performed “fully autonomously” by its G1 robots, while the broader routine delivered several industry firsts, including trampoline somersaults reaching three metres and high-speed running of up to four metres per second (roughly 14 km/h).

“These innovations are very practical and will facilitate large-scale group deployment of robots in the future,” Wang told 36Kr, adding that a robot’s fall during the performance had been pre-planned as part of the routine.