In September 2026, the 102nd edition of IFA, the Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA 2026), officially opened in Berlin, Germany. Themed "The Future Is Now," the exhibition has drawn widespread attention from the global tech sector. Explaining the theme, Leif Lindner, CEO of IFA, noted that the slogan represents a shift in mindset: technologies that were merely showcased in PowerPoint presentations just a few years ago are now truly integrated into and transforming people's daily lives. He emphasized that with the majority of visitors under the age of 35, the event serves as a platform "where the next generation meets next-generation technology," adding, "We need to understand what these technologies mean to us, because 'trust' cannot be downloaded. Trust is built on practice and experience, and that is exactly what the Berlin show delivers."
As one of the world's top three premier consumer technology exhibitions, IFA is expected to attract 220,000 visitors this year. In terms of exhibitor scale, official statistics show that out of approximately 1,900 global exhibitors, 932 are Chinese companies, accounting for roughly 49% of the total. Compared to the approximately 700 Chinese exhibitors in 2025, the number of Chinese companies participating in 2026 has surged by about 35%, setting a new all-time high.
At this year's show, Chinese tech companies have demonstrated robust innovation capabilities across multiple cutting-edge fields. Making its official debut at IFA, Xiaomi Group has built a pavilion spanning over 3,000 square meters, covering its full business portfolio of smartphones, smart EVs, and smart home ecosystems, and showcasing more than 380 products. In an on-site interview, Lu Weibing, Partner and President of Xiaomi Group, stated, "IFA is an exhibition for consumer electronics and home appliances, which closely aligns with our rapid development in IoT and large home appliance businesses over the past few years. Our participation at IFA marks a milestone, as a very important event next year will be bringing our cars here as well." At this year's show, Xiaomi unveiled the global debut of its first flagship mid-size foldable smartphone, the Xiaomi 18 Fold, and also exhibited its humanoid robot overseas for the first time. Meanwhile, Xiaomi's smart home brand, Mijia, officially announced its large-scale entry into the European market. In its automotive business, Xiaomi plans to launch commercial sales in Europe in 2027 and has already signed agreements with eight leading German dealerships during this year's IFA. Additionally, Xiaomi brought its Xuanjie chips—O3, O100, and D100—which serve as the computing foundation for its "human-car-home" full ecosystem.
In the fields of wearables and robotics, several Chinese companies introduced breakthrough new products. AI dietary management brand ODYSS debuted its upcoming AI dietary management necklace, the ODYSS N1, which captures real-time eating data to generate dietary scores, winning the 2026 IFA Innovation Award. Hypershell, a leading enterprise in consumer-grade exoskeletons, launched its new flagship product, Halo. As the world's first ultra-premium full-lower-limb exoskeleton, it features the industry's first built-in AI Agent, "Shelly," significantly lowering the barrier to entry for users.
Cleaning robots and embodied intelligence were also focal points of the exhibition. Ecovacs showcased its window-cleaning robots, which command a global market share of over 65%. Dreame released the A4 AWD PRO robotic mower, capable of tackling 42-degree steep slopes. Eufy, a sub-brand of Anker Innovations, introduced the S2 Max robotic mower equipped with a robotic arm. Embodied intelligence companies such as Unitree Robotics, Agibot, and DeepRobotics collectively showcased their humanoid robots.
Traditional home appliance giants also shone brightly on the show floor. TCL occupied Hall 21A, globally debuting the upgraded NXTHOME smart home platform. Hisense unveiled the world's first 116-inch "Linglong 4-Core True-Color Backlight RGB-Mini LED" TV, the UX2026 model. Featuring 43,008 color control zones and a peak true-color brightness of 10,000 nits, it demonstrated an ultimate audio-visual experience to European buyers.
Beyond the stunning displays inside the halls, the operational model behind the exhibition has also undergone a transformation. To boost commercial vitality, gfu, the owner of the IFA brand, and UK-based Clarion Events established a joint venture, IFA Management GmbH, in November 2022. Clarion Events holds the controlling stake and has fully taken over global exhibitor recruitment and daily operations. This move has driven the rejuvenation of the show and the introduction of emerging technologies.
From a macro perspective, the accelerated expansion of Chinese companies into the European market carries profound strategic significance. According to the "2025 Report on Foreign Investment in Germany" released by Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), against a backdrop of a 9.3% overall decline in global investment in Germany, China has once again surpassed the United States to become the largest source country for foreign investment projects in Germany for the first time since 2017. As Europe's most densely populated, highest-purchasing-power single market with a solid industrial foundation, Germany not only serves as an ideal host for the outward extension of China's supply chains but also provides core soil for Chinese tech companies to engage in industry-academia-research collaboration through its abundant local R&D resources.
As the global industrial focus and commercial efficiency shift, Chinese tech companies are stepping out of their comfort zone of simply selling products. In the autumn of Berlin, Chinese hardware enterprises are seamlessly integrating their ultimate operational efficiency with local high-end and precision manufacturing, writing a crucial breakthrough chapter in their globalization journey.