Lisbon's Web Summit opens its tenth edition this week, and the 2026 gathering marks a clear turning point: humanoid robots are no longer just exhibits but official speakers. The shift to physical artificial intelligence is the event's central theme, and China is using the occasion to showcase its ambitions in the field.
For the first time, robots built by Chinese companies will deliver speeches on the main stage and interact with visitors at brand stands across the Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) and the MEO Arena. The machines are part of the largest Chinese delegation ever sent to the technology conference, a sign of Beijing's growing influence in the global AI race.
One of the featured robots, developed by Galbot, is a wheeled unit with two arms designed to work real shifts in shops, pharmacies, and factories. Its presence underscores a broader trend: the focus of the event has moved from software that generates text and images to autonomous agents that operate in the physical world.
From software to physical AI
The programme reflects this evolution, with sessions dedicated to AI agents, technology-supported scientific research, digital regulation, and the reshaping of work models. The opening night will feature the robots' first public appearances, and over the four days they will give practical demonstrations alongside human speakers.
China's official presence extends beyond the private sector. The Ministry of Commerce and the Cyberspace Administration of China are both sending delegations, underscoring the strategic importance Beijing attaches to the event. This is not merely a trade mission; it is a statement about who leads in embodied AI.
Organisers expect close to 70,000 participants, including 900 speakers and more than two thousand startups. The doors open at 16:30, with the first main-stage speeches at 18:00. Portugal's Minister Adjunct and for State Reform, Gonçalo Matias, will lead the opening session.
Portuguese-speaking startups in focus
Brazil is also making a strong showing, with around 300 startups present, 100 of them as part of a mission organised by Sebrae and ApexBrasil. On Tuesday, those institutions will announce up to 20 startups selected for an incubation programme in Lisbon, starting in March 2027. The initiative aims to connect Brazil's tech ecosystem with European investors active in international markets.
Portugal itself is sending 78 companies, mainly from the AI and health technology sectors. The country has positioned itself as a hub for tech talent and investment, and the Web Summit has been a key part of that strategy since it moved to Lisbon in 2016.
Future of the event in question
Paddy Cosgrave, chief executive and co-founder of Web Summit, has not confirmed whether the event will remain in Portugal beyond 2028, when the €110 million contract with the Portuguese government and Lisbon City Council expires. In an interview with the newspaper Expresso last week, Cosgrave said he is in negotiations with most major European cities and plans to announce the decision at the 2027 edition.
The limitations of the Lisbon venue are a factor. "We have been at the limit of capacity for years and we have built 30,000 square metres of temporary structures," Cosgrave said. The city's infrastructure may struggle to accommodate the event's growth, and other European capitals are eager to host the gathering.
For now, Lisbon remains the centre of Europe's tech calendar, and this year's edition is a reminder of how quickly the continent is adapting to the age of physical AI. Whether the robots are a novelty or a glimpse of the future, their presence signals that the conversation about AI is no longer confined to screens.
