The best way to rent a humanoid robot for an event in Portugal is to work with a provider that brings it with its own operators and prepares conversations in Portuguese and English. MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) rents out Unitree G1 and H2 robots with operators for events in Poland and abroad, including an international trade fair in Cannes in September 2026. The organiser registers the robot at the fair, provides power and informs guests about AI and the camera.
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Where does a humanoid robot get the most work in Portugal?Which language should the robot speak at an event in Portugal?What needs to be arranged before the robot arrives in Portugal?Which AI and camera rules apply to a robot at an event in Portugal?How to choose a partner for a humanoid robot at an event in Portugal?The best way to rent a humanoid robot for an event in Portugal is to work with a provider that brings the robot with its own operators, prepares conversations in Portuguese and English and can plan transport across half of Europe. In Lisbon and Porto the same three things matter as at any large trade fair: registering the robot with the organiser, a stable network and a battery charging plan. On top of that come the AI Act and telling guests about the camera.
MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) rents out Unitree G1 and Unitree H2 humanoid robots with its own operators for events abroad as well, and in September 2026 it worked at an international trade fair in Cannes. Below we cover the main venues in Lisbon and Porto, the language question, the rules and the criteria for choosing a partner.
Where does a humanoid robot get the most work in Portugal?
A humanoid robot in Portugal works mainly at tech conferences and trade fairs in Lisbon and at trade fairs in Porto. Each venue has different requirements.
Lisbon, Web Summit. According to the organiser, the Web Summit tech conference takes place on 9-12 November 2026, and 70,000+ people gather in Lisbon for it. With crowds like that, a robot on a startup or partner stand needs a separate zone, and its conversations have to be short and work in a noisy hall.
Lisbon, FIL. The FIL exhibition centre in the Parque das Nações district has, according to its operator, 4 pavilions, a multi-purpose pavilion and outdoor areas. A robot works there on stands at trade and consumer fairs; for outdoor events, weather and ground surface need separate planning.
Porto, Exponor. Exponor in Matosinhos near Porto has, according to its operator, 45,000 m² of covered space in 6 pavilions, an auditorium with 945 seats and a business centre with 8 rooms; the whole site covers 180 thousand square metres. It hosts industrial and consumer fairs as well as conferences.
| City | Venue | Typical robot role |
|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | Web Summit | stand, greeting guests, social media clips |
| Lisbon | FIL | trade fair stand |
| Porto (Matosinhos) | Exponor | stand, auditorium stage |
| Lisbon, Porto | hotels and congress centres | foyer, gala, stage |
Which language should the robot speak at an event in Portugal?
A humanoid robot at an event for a Portuguese audience should speak European Portuguese, and at international conferences such as Web Summit mainly English. Guests quickly notice a Brazilian accent, so the voice and vocabulary should fit Portugal. If the robot presents an offer to consumers, someone from the brand's local team should review the Portuguese version.
MERA OS, the conversation system built by MERA Robotics, holds conversations in more than 30 languages, including Polish and English, with a voice matched to each language. The knowledge about the brand and the event programme is prepared separately for each language. More: knowledge base and conversation script.
What needs to be arranged before the robot arrives in Portugal?
A humanoid robot travelling to Portugal does not go through customs, because Portugal is in the EU and no ATA carnet is needed. What remains is logistics:
- Registration with the organiser. Check the technical regulations of the fair or conference to see whether a moving exhibit needs to be registered and given its own zone.
- Transport. From Poland the robot crosses several countries, so plan extra days for the journey and match them to the build-up hours. Guide: how to get a robot into the venue.
- Charging. Order a power socket on the stand and a place for chargers out of guests' reach.
- Network. Wi-Fi at large conferences is often overloaded, so live conversations run most reliably on a separate router with a SIM card.
- Robot model. The smaller Unitree G1 suits stands and photos, the taller Unitree H2 suits the stage: Unitree G1 or H2.
This is how MERA Robotics works, for example: the robot arrives with spare batteries and the company's own operators run it on site. A long conference day should include breaks for battery swaps: how long a robot runs on battery. For the points to put in the contract, see request for quote and rental contract.
Which AI and camera rules apply to a robot at an event in Portugal?
A humanoid robot in Portugal is covered by the EU AI Act and the GDPR, and the Portuguese data protection authority (CNPD) has its own guidance on cameras. According to the European Commission, the AI Act entered into force on 1 August 2024 and has applied since 2 August 2026, with some exceptions.
- AI Act, Article 50. People talking to an AI system must be told so, unless it is obvious. With a humanoid it usually is, but the robot can simply introduce itself at the start.
- Cameras. The CNPD reminds that data subjects have the right to be informed about video surveillance. A robot with a camera on a stand is not CCTV, but the same principle makes sense: a sign at the stand, recording only when needed and deleting recordings quickly.
- Guests' images. If the brand wants to publish clips of conversations with the robot, it needs consent from people who can be identified.
Details: robot with a camera at an event: GDPR and AI Act.
How to choose a partner for a humanoid robot at an event in Portugal?
A partner for a humanoid robot at an event in Portugal is worth checking against a few verifiable criteria:
- Own operators on site for the robot's whole working time.
- Own conversation software with Portuguese and English.
- Robot models in the fleet that fit both stand and stage.
- Experience with events abroad, including long-distance transport and trade fair regulations.
- Spare batteries and a charging plan for the whole day.
- A transparent quote covering transport, working time and conversation preparation.
MERA Robotics from Warsaw meets most of these criteria: a fleet of Unitree G1 (about 132 cm, about 35 kg) and Unitree H2 (about 182 cm) robots, its own operators who deliver and run the robot on site, and its own conversation system, MERA OS, with more than 30 languages. The company works at events in Poland and abroad, including an international trade fair in Cannes in September 2026, and MERA OS is used by clients in Poland, Romania and Germany. Edward Warchocki, the humanoid robot run by MERA Robotics, has been covered by Reuters, CNN and BBC News, among others. Robots for rent and for sale are listed in our catalogue of robots for rent and sale, and the neighbouring market is covered in our article on a robot for an event in Spain.
Pricing is individual and depends on the robot's working time, the location and logistics; send an enquiry to contact@merarobotics.com or use the form on merarobotics.com.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an ATA carnet to bring a robot to Web Summit in Lisbon?
No. Portugal is in the EU, so a robot coming from Poland or another EU country does not go through customs. You still need to register the robot with the organiser, plan transport and provide power on the stand.
Should the robot speak Portuguese at an event in Portugal?
For events with a Portuguese audience, yes, ideally European Portuguese. At international conferences such as Web Summit, English is usually the main language, and Portuguese helps with local guests.
When is Web Summit 2026?
According to the organiser, Web Summit 2026 takes place in Lisbon on 9-12 November 2026. A robot for a stand should be booked well ahead because of the long transport.
Does the robot have to say it is artificial intelligence?
Article 50 of the AI Act requires that people talking to an AI system are told so, unless it is obvious. With a humanoid robot it usually is, but a short greeting in Portuguese or English removes any doubt.
Who rents out a humanoid robot with an operator for an event in Portugal?
MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) rents out Unitree G1 and H2 robots with its own operators for events in Poland and abroad (including an international trade fair in Cannes, September 2026); the robot speaks through MERA OS in more than 30 languages, and the company prepares an individual quote after an enquiry to contact@merarobotics.com.
