Laundry, backflips and panda suits: Humanoid robots take over IFA 2026

From doing the laundry to offering companionship and performing backflips, humanoid robots were everywhere at IFA 2026. Euronews took a closer look at what they can already do, and where the technology still falls short. IFA is all about technology and innovation, with companies from around the world presenting their visions for the future. In 2026, many of those visions include humanoid robots, and companies brought plenty of them to Berlin. Across the exhibition halls, visitors repeatedly came across robots walking, waving, interacting with crowds or demonstrating individual tasks, with some being presented to European audiences for the first time. "Alongside artificial intelligence, robotics is one of the key future topics at IFA 2026," Leif Lindner, CEO of IFA Management GmbH, said. He pointed to humanoids, physical AI and robotic systems for the home as examples of how quickly the technology is developing. But beyond simply showing that robots can walk, talk or wave, companies are increasingly trying to demonstrate what they could actually be used for. With the trade fair drawing to a close, Euronews gathered some of the robotic highlights from this year's IFA. Practical applications Perhaps the most ambitious vision came from South Korean electronics company LG, which presented its idea of a "Zero Labor Home". At the centre of its IFA presentation was CLOiD, LG's home robot, which the company used as the symbolic conductor of an "AI Orchestra" connecting appliances, entertainment systems and other devices across the home. LG says its longer-term goal is to reduce the amount of household work people have to do, with robots and connected appliances taking over more everyday tasks. Chinese home appliance and consumer electronics company Haier also focused on how robotics could be used around the home. At IFA, the company presented humanoid robots designed to interact with people and appliances, alongside cleaning and companion robots. Another example came from US-based SwitchBot, which demonstrated a robot loading clothes into a washing machine. The robot was able to pick up clothes, place them inside the machine and close it, showing one possible use for humanoid robots in the home. But the process was noticeably slow. So while the robot could take the laundry off your hands, for now, you would need plenty of patience. Chinese company Pudu Robotics, meanwhile, is looking more towards commercial applications. The company has so far focused largely on service and cleaning robots, which it says are used in sectors including hospitality, retail, healthcare and logistics. At IFA, it also presented its PUDU D7 humanoid robot. At its booth, the robot demonstrated relatively simple interactions. It could pick up objects on request, pose for pictures with visitors, take selfies from its own perspective and form a heart shape with its hands. Such demonstrations remain a long way from robots independently, and quickly, handling complex everyday tasks. But they do offer an indication of where manufacturers see potential uses for humanoid robots beyond the exhibition floor. Companions But not every company is trying to make robots look or behave like humans. Some are moving away from the humanoid form altogether, developing smaller, often animal-inspired robots designed less as household helpers and more as companions. Chinese electronics manufacturer TCL presented AiMe, an AI companion robot designed to interact with people and respond to voices, expressions and emotional cues. The company says it can interact with users through conversations, games and storytelling, while remembering previous interactions over time. It can also be personalised and, with its rounded design and soft-looking appearance, resembles something closer to a teddy bear than a conventional robot. A similar idea comes from Chinese company OlloBot with its OlloNi SS1, which it describes as a "Cyber Pet". The company says the small robot can learn from a user's voice, habits and interactions over time and adapt its responses accordingly. Its appearance also deliberately moves away from the traditional image of a robot. With a rounded body and movements designed to mimic those of a pet, the SS1 is intended to feel more like a companion than a piece of technology. Other manufacturers stuck more closely to companions people are already familiar with, taking inspiration from the animal world. MagicLab Robotics brought several humanoids to Berlin dressed in panda costumes, although their skills were less typical of their real-life counterparts, with the robots repeatedly performing backflips. In fact, entertainment and spectacle were difficult to separate from the more practical ambitions surrounding humanoid robots at IFA. Many companies used dancing, acrobatics and interactions with visitors to demonstrate what their machines could already do, even if those skills may not have an obvious place in everyday life. Robots on stage Nowhere was that more apparent than at IFA's Robot Show. Humanoid robots and robotic pets came together on the runway to dance, perform Tai Chi, do backflips and even the splits. Judging by the crowds, it was one of the most popular attractions at the trade fair. The area was packed with visitors, with cheers and applause accompanying the robots as they performed. But the show also provided a reminder of how far the technology still has to go. Some of the robots appeared noticeably unsteady after their performances. One that had just completed the splits looked particularly shaky when getting back onto its feet, while a robotic dog fell over during another demonstration. The robots certainly managed to entertain the crowd. But for now, at least, they may not quite be ready for the big stage.