Video: watson/elena maria müller
The Chinese Year of the Fire Horse began on the night of February 16th to 17th. The latest robot technology stole the show.
Feb 17, 2026, 3:23 p.mFeb 17, 2026, 3:23 p.m
Hosted by China Media Group (CMG), the Spring Festival gala spotlighted China’s latest technological innovations, highlighting the achievements of the country’s rapidly growing robotics sector throughout the hour-long entertainment show.
Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional holiday for the Chinese people. The Spring Festival Gala, also known as “Chunwan,” is watched by hundreds of millions of Chinese households every year.
Technology is much better than it was a year ago
The performances are also admired online, which is particularly noticeable: the robots perform much better than they did a year ago. The movements are much more fluid and demanding. The humanoid robots perform an impressive martial arts performance together with young Kung Fu artists.
Since its first broadcast in 1983, the gala has been listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the most-watched annual television show in the world. The Spring Festival itself was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2024. No wonder, then, that China is showcasing its technological progress. China has been investing enormously in promoting AI and robots for a long time. The aim is to be a market leader in this area. (emm, reuters)
Video: watson/elena maria müller
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