IFA 2026 Puts Humanoid Robots and Physical AI in the Spotlight

Robotics has taken a prominent place at IFA Berlin 2026, with humanoid machines, autonomous robots and Physical AI demonstrating how quickly the technology is moving from research labs into everyday applications.

Humanoid robots are performing dances, backflips and Tai Chi on the runway, while autonomous machines are competing in football matches. At the same time, companies and researchers are exploring how robots could eventually assist people with physically demanding work and tasks at home.

“Alongside artificial intelligence, robotics is one of the key future topics at IFA 2026,” said Leif Lindner, CEO of IFA Management GmbH. He said the event gives visitors an opportunity to see technologies that were considered science fiction only a few years ago.

Humanoid Robots Take Over the Runway

The “Robots on the Runway” show at the IFA Creator Stage brought several humanoid robots together for live demonstrations. The machines showed off their ability to move, interact with people and respond to questions from the host.

Some robots demonstrated athletic movements, including backflips and splits, while others focused on interaction and entertainment. The showcase also included robotic systems designed to interact with pets and a four-legged robot designed for emergency and rescue applications.

More humanoid robots are being showcased at IFA this year than ever before, with companies including PrimeBot Robots, EngineAI, Cozio Robotics, Dobot Robot, DEEP Robotics, Agibot and Unitree among the participants.

Physical AI Moves Beyond Software

NEURA Robotics founder and CEO David Reger also highlighted the growing role of Physical AI during his IFA keynote.

Unlike conventional AI systems that primarily process information, Physical AI allows machines to understand their surroundings, react to changes and perform tasks in the physical world. Reger said this could become increasingly important as countries face demographic changes and shortages of workers.

Robots Could Enter the Kitchen

The potential use of humanoid robots inside homes was another focus at IFA. During the Smart Living Forum, experts discussed how robots could move beyond performing individual tasks and learn about the habits and preferences of the people they live with.

PrimeBot Robotics CMO Jiyuan Zou said future robots could potentially understand a family's environment, eating habits and cooking preferences, making the kitchen more than just another place for automation.

Robots Take to the Football Pitch

Autonomous robotics is also being demonstrated through RoboCup, where teams of researchers and students compete using robots they have developed themselves.

The football matches require machines to analyse the game, make decisions independently and coordinate with teammates, offering a glimpse of how autonomous systems can work together without direct human control.