Rise of Robot Rentals: Transforming Chinese New Year Celebrations with a 70% Surge in Orders

The trend of renting robots has gained significant traction as the 2026 Spring Festival approaches, marking a shift from traditional festive elements to high-tech entertainment. According to a report from QingTian Rent, a robot rental service platform, the number of orders during the festival period (from the first to the seventh day of the lunar new year) has surged by nearly 70% compared to previous periods.

As the popularity of “electronic New Year’s goods” continues to rise, robots have emerged as the new stars of the Spring Festival celebrations. A rental operator reported that their robots were fully booked before the festival, primarily for entertainment performances and commercial marketing purposes. Videos shared on various social media platforms show that this trend has spread widely, with robots appearing in numerous cities and even in county towns.

Throughout the past year, the robot industry has been thriving, and this year’s Spring Festival serves as a significant “stress test” for the robot rental sector. Mr. Bai, a robot rental business owner, shared two impressive achievements from the festival period: one robot in Chengdu participated in two events, garnering coverage from CCTV and attracting thousands of viewers, while another in Wuxi engaged in 13 events across six locations over 32 days, showcasing skills like calligraphy and dance.

“Our robots hardly took a break this Spring Festival,” Mr. Bai remarked with a smile. Robots are no longer just a showcase of technology; they have truly integrated into the festive spirit of Chinese New Year. The data from QingTian Rent indicates that during this period, entertainment performances accounted for 34% of platform orders, commercial marketing 31%, educational and cultural tourism functions 19%, and life events and emotional consumption 16%. Orders related to traditional festivities, such as New Year’s greetings and temple fairs, made up over 54% of the total, marking an increase of over 76% compared to previous periods.

“The Spring Festival is a crucial emotional touchpoint for the Chinese people, and it has become an important opportunity for robots to enter real-life scenarios,” said Li Yiyan, CEO of QingTian Rent. As of February 12, the platform had already received over 1,000 orders for the Spring Festival, with expectations that the total would exceed 5,000 by the end of the holiday.

The surge in demand for robot rentals can be attributed to the overall growing interest in the industry and the powerful promotional effect of this year’s Spring Festival Gala. Major companies like Yushu Technology, Songyan Power, Magic Atom, and Galaxy General showcased their robots during the gala, effectively educating a nationwide audience about their capabilities. In addition, local Spring Festivals have also provided multiple opportunities for exposure.

Despite the dramatic increase in rentals during the Spring Festival, Li emphasized that the demand for robot rentals extends beyond just this holiday, indicating an overall upward trend in market needs. On December 2025, when QingTian Rent launched, Chairman Jiang Qingsong noted that the robot rental market had already surpassed 1 billion yuan, predicting it would reach 10 billion yuan in 2026.

Li further explained that the anticipated growth in the market will stem from three main areas: the supply side, where mass production of robots will begin in 2025; the workforce side, where partner programs and training will significantly increase the number of industry professionals; and the demand side, where interest will expand from businesses to consumers.

QingTian Rent is not planning to navigate this growth alone. They have invited other robot manufacturers to join their platform and initiated a nationwide city partner strategy to facilitate local operations. “We provide partners with support in four main areas: rental product subsidies, after-sales and development assistance, order and traffic support, and marketing exposure. Our goal is to help partners manage local fulfillment,” said Li Liheng, co-president of QingTian Rent.

During the Spring Festival, one of the first city partners, Shi Jian, reported having six robots booked solidly throughout the holiday, with an average monthly earning of around 2,500 yuan per robot. However, some experts warn that the rental market heavily relies on public interest and novelty, suggesting that as technology matures and prices drop, the market may face challenges if it continues to depend solely on performances.

Li Liheng expressed confidence in the industry’s future, comparing the current situation to the early days of ChatGPT, suggesting that while it may seem like a trend now, robots will become a fundamental part of infrastructure in the future. QingTian Rent has ambitious plans to bridge the gap between the tech industry and everyday applications.

Recently, a competing robot rental platform called Wanji Yizu has launched, indicating an emerging competitive landscape. However, Li remains unfazed, believing that competition validates the market’s potential. “We have already engaged with investment teams from major companies and will announce a new round of funding soon. We are currently in a position of strength with our first-mover advantage, market recognition, and partner network,” he stated.