Robots Draw Cheers at IFA With Laughter, Rock-Paper-Scissors and Dance Moves

Laughter and applause erupted at Berlin’s IFA 2026 as humanoid robots waved to the crowd, struck poses and even played rock-paper-scissors. Visitors had formed several rows around the stage before the show began, filling the space under the bright lights.

More than 10 robotics companies, including China’s Unitree, Agibot, EngineAI, Deep Robotics and Dobot, brought their machines to the runway. The lineup ranged from bipedal humanoids to robot dogs and panda-shaped robots. Some clenched their fists and posed, while others waved, danced and showed off individual tricks.

The scene captured a notable shift at IFA. Once dominated by home appliances, the exhibition placed robots in the spotlight instead of human models, underscoring how artificial intelligence and robotics are moving toward the center of the event.

The strong showing by robots coincided with the large participation of Chinese companies. IFA, held over five days from Sept. 4, brought together about 1,900 companies from 49 countries, with Chinese exhibitors accounting for 93 of them.