Technology

Global humanoid robots market for entertainment set to soar to $7.83 billion by 2034

Wednesday, 23 April 2025 5:18AM UTC

The market for humanoid robots designed for entertainment is projected to grow dramatically from $310.3 million in 2024 to $7.83 billion by 2034, driven by advances in AI and robotics with North America leading demand, particularly in theme parks and amusement venues.

The global market for humanoid robots designed specifically for entertainment purposes is poised for significant expansion over the coming decade. According to a recent comprehensive report by Market.us, the market value is projected to grow from approximately USD 310.3 million in 2024 to an estimated USD 7.83 billion by 2034. This reflects a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38.10% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2034.

In 2024, North America emerged as the leading regional market for humanoid entertainment robots, accounting for over 48.3% of the market share with revenues reaching USD 149 million. The United States specifically held a sizeable portion of this market, valued at USD 134.7 million, and is expected to see a strong growth rate with a projected CAGR of 36.8%. The region’s leadership is attributed to well-established technological infrastructure, high consumer spending, and substantial investments in research and development related to robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).

Humanoid robots for entertainment are highly advanced robotic systems designed to replicate human traits and behaviours. Their applications range across theme parks, theatres, exhibitions, and other entertainment venues, where they perform tasks such as acting, singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, guiding visitors, and interacting conversationally with audiences. The integration of AI and robotics technology has enhanced their ability to engage audiences more naturally and offer personalised interactions, thereby enriching customer experience in diverse entertainment settings.

The hardware component dominates the humanoid robots for entertainment market, constituting over 70.5% of the market share in 2024. This dominance stems from ongoing innovations in mechanical engineering, material sciences, and electronic component miniaturisation that enable robots to exhibit greater mobility, durability, and expressive capabilities. Among robot types, wheel drive humanoid robots held a commanding market share of more than 72.8% in the same year due to their superior mobility, stability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness when compared to bipedal designs. These robots are particularly effective in dynamic environments such as theme parks where consistent and reliable performance is critical.

In terms of application, theme parks and amusement parks represent the largest segment, commanding over 36.7% of the market share in 2024. The use of humanoid robots in this area enhances visitor engagement through interactive performances, meet-and-greet activities, and operational roles such as providing information and guiding guests. The escalating demand for immersive and innovative entertainment experiences in these venues is driving adoption.

The report also highlights the dynamic role of humanoid robots in other sectors such as museums, exhibitions, event hosting, retail, and educational environments. For instance, these robots are increasingly employed to deliver interactive learning experiences and personalised entertainment, leveraging real-time adaptation and AI-driven behaviour modification.

While the sector offers vast growth potential, challenges remain. The high costs associated with the development, maintenance, and operation of humanoid robots can pose barriers to broader adoption, especially for smaller venues. Furthermore, safety and ethical concerns around human-robot interactions in public spaces necessitate rigorous protocols and multidisciplinary collaboration among engineers, ethicists, and industry stakeholders to ensure responsible deployment.

An additional factor influencing the market is the impact of U.S. tariffs on imported robotic components, particularly those sourced from China. These tariffs, which may increase production costs by up to 32%, have introduced financial pressures that could affect pricing and competitiveness of domestically produced humanoid robots. In response, an industry trend towards reshoring manufacturing operations is emerging, aiming to mitigate trade risks, stabilise costs, and foster innovation through enhanced local production supported by government and private investment.

Technological advancements are shaping several emerging trends in this market. State-of-the-art AI integration allows humanoid robots to perform more lifelike movements, communicate through voice recognition and sentiment analysis, and learn behaviours from their environments. Robots such as “Pepper” from SoftBank Robotics, “DARwin-OP” from ROBOTIS, “Walker” from UBTECH Robotics, and others like Hanson Robotics’ “Sophia” are at the forefront of these developments, offering increasingly sophisticated interactions in entertainment and customer service roles.

Recent industry developments include UBTECH’s unveiling of new humanoid models at LEAP 2025, with a focus on both entertainment and industrial uses, and Agility Robotics’ announced enhancements to their “Digit” robot enhancing battery life and autonomous capabilities. Notably, Hanson Robotics’ “Sophia” actively engaged with visitors during Australia’s National Communication Museum launch in Melbourne in September 2024, demonstrating the evolving role of humanoid robots in live public events.

Looking ahead, the market presents several key opportunities. These include expansion into immersive visitor experiences in theme parks, growth in retail and customer service applications, incorporation into educational settings as interactive teaching aides, and roles in healthcare for non-medical support tasks. Further advancements in AI promise to deepen personalised entertainment options, potentially transforming various public and private environments.

The growing adoption of humanoid robots also offers multiple business benefits beyond enhanced guest engagement. They serve as novel marketing tools that attract visitors, provide safer alternatives for risky tasks, and improve operational efficiency by automating repetitive functions. The ability of these robots to perform without fatigue and maintain consistent quality positions them as valuable assets in the entertainment industry.

In summary, the humanoid robots for entertainment market is undergoing rapid growth, driven by technological innovation and evolving consumer preferences for interactive, immersive experiences. While challenges such as cost and regulatory considerations persist, ongoing advancements in robotics and AI, coupled with strategic industry adaptations, are expected to further accelerate the integration of humanoid robots into the global entertainment landscape.

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/humanoid-robot-market-99567653.html - This comprehensive report by MarketsandMarkets provides detailed projections of the humanoid robot market size and growth rates, supporting the claim of market growth from around USD 310.3 million to multi-billion USD valuations with a strong CAGR over the coming decade.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-states-usa-humanoid-robot-market-worth-3-83-billion-by-2029---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302416726.html - This press release confirms North America, especially the US, as the leading regional market for humanoid robots with substantial revenues and strong projected growth rates driven by technological infrastructure and investments.
https://www.grandviewresearch.com/horizon/outlook/humanoid-robot-market/north-america - Provides data on the North American humanoid robot market revenue and expected growth trends, bolstering the report's figures on market share and regional dominance.
https://www.assemblymag.com/articles/99062-north-american-robotics-market-holds-steady-in-2024 - This article outlines the robotics market activity in North America in 2024, corroborating high consumer spending and investments that contribute to the leading position in humanoid robot adoption and technological innovation.
https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/ai/human-like-robots-transform-entertainment-industry/ - Details how humanoid robots are integrated into entertainment applications such as theme parks, theatres, and exhibitions, performing interactive tasks like acting and guiding visitors, confirming their advanced AI-driven engagement capabilities.
https://spectrum.ieee.org/humanoid-robots-telepresence-ai - Analyzes technical trends in hardware innovations and AI integration in humanoid robots, supporting claims about hardware dominance, wheel-drive robot advantages, and enhancements in lifelike mobility and interaction.
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMidEFVX3lxTE91QkhRZXVhcnJ4RzJMcFRUd2VURWE0U1NpcWZHM3lrSHQ1MzdWekt6TU1YR1U4UDRZMHJuRjBiNkF5OTN5dVUyUU1mVnVZcU1PVFFleEJfbUpCclZTMXVSYzhieDU4WVBxX19zQWhCRWVGeVFZ?oc=5&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en - Please view link - unable to able to access data

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative references data and events up to late 2024 and early 2025, including specific product launches at LEAP 2025 and recent public demonstrations in September 2024. No indications of outdated information or recycled news were found, suggesting the content is very current.

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: Direct references to robot models like ‘Pepper’, ‘DARwin-OP’, ‘Walker’, and ‘Sophia’ are well-documented in robotics literature and media. The mention of Sophia’s engagement at Australia’s National Communication Museum in September 2024 appears unique and recent; however, no direct original quotation sources or first-use references were identified online, indicating the possibility of original reportage or first-time disclosure.

Source reliability

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative is based on a recent Market.us report combined with industry event information and references to known robotics companies. Market.us is a commercial market research entity, which generally provides credible market data but is not a traditional news organisation. The narrative also includes specifics on tariffs and manufacturing trends, but these are not independently verified from major established news outlets, which slightly reduces confidence.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The projected market growth rates, regional market shares, and technology trends such as AI integration and robot applications align well with current knowledge of robotics and AI developments. Specific references to recent events and product launches enhance plausibility. Trade and cost challenges are reasonable given known geopolitical factors affecting supply chains.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The analysis presents a well-timed and plausible overview of the humanoid entertainment robot market, supported by recent data and events including 2024-2025 developments. While originating primarily from a market research report rather than a major news outlet, the narrative’s detailed and consistent information combined with references to known industry players and recent events justifies a high confidence in its accuracy.

humanoid robots
entertainment technology
robotics market