Humanoid Robots Take Center Stage at IFA 2026 as Samsung and LG Counter With AI, High-Efficiency Appliances

Humanoid robots are set to take over parts of IFA 2026, marking a sharp change at a show long dominated by refrigerators, washing machines and televisions. The European consumer electronics and information technology exhibition will open in Berlin under the theme “The Future Is Now.”

The IFA Next area, which brings together startups and emerging technologies, will host the largest humanoid robot display in the event’s history. Humanoid and quadruped robots will walk across a stage in a presentation called “Robot on the Runway,” while researchers from Berlin’s Humboldt University will also appear with robotic technology.

China will have its biggest presence yet, with 932 companies taking part. Their participation will account for nearly half of all brands at the show. Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics will respond with appliances aimed at European consumers, focusing on high energy efficiency and artificial intelligence.

IFA 2026 will run from Sept. 4 to 8 in Berlin. First held in 1924, the exhibition has more than a century of history. Last year, about 1,900 brands from 49 countries participated, drawing 220,000 visitors from around 140 countries.