Humanoid robot for an event in Slovakia: Bratislava and Košice. Venues, rules, AI Act and who provides it

Bringing a humanoid robot to a congress, trade fair or gala in Slovakia works much like an event anywhere else in the EU: there is no customs border, and the rules on AI and data protection are European. Three things still need careful preparation: getting the robot into the venue, marking the robot zone, and choosing the conversation languages. Below is practical information for organisers and exhibitors in Bratislava and Košice.

What should you know about Slovakia before an event with a humanoid robot?

Slovakia has been an EU member since 1 May 2004, has used the euro since 1 January 2009 and has been part of the Schengen area since 21 December 2007; the official language is Slovak (European Union). For an organiser from elsewhere in the EU this means invoices in euro, no border checks on the road and the same AI Act and GDPR rules as at home.

Where are the large trade fairs, congresses and corporate events in Slovakia?

The largest exhibition grounds in Slovakia are Incheba Expo in Bratislava, while in Košice large events take place at Steel Aréna, among other venues. The venue shapes how the robot works: a big hall means longer walking routes and more noise, while in a conference room the route to the stage matters most.

Incheba hosts consumer and trade fairs all year round, including MOTOCYKEL, MODDOM and the Veľtrh bývania a nehnuteľností housing fair, and in October 2026 the international DANUBE CACIB dog shows (Incheba). At fairs like these a humanoid robot works well as a greeter at the stand, a conversation partner about the exhibitor's offer or a photo attraction. At a smaller corporate event in Košice it more often works at registration and on stage.

Does a humanoid robot need customs clearance or an ATA carnet for Slovakia?

No, a humanoid robot travelling from another EU country to Slovakia needs neither customs clearance nor an ATA carnet, because the EU is a customs union. The European Commission explains that no customs duties are levied at the borders between EU countries and that goods circulate freely without customs checks (European Commission). An ATA carnet only becomes relevant for trips outside the EU.

How do you get a humanoid robot to Bratislava or Košice?

The most practical way to bring a humanoid robot to Slovakia is by road, together with its operators and spare batteries. The Unitree G1 is about 132 cm tall and weighs about 35 kg, while the Unitree H2 is about 182 cm tall, so with the larger model you should check the height of doors, lifts and backstage corridors.

Before the trip, agree with the venue on:

1. access and unloading: which gate the vehicle uses, at what time, and where it can park during set-up,
2. the route to the robot zone: goods lifts, thresholds, stairs and door widths,
3. power: a socket at the stand and a separate one backstage for charging batteries, because stand power is often switched off after the fair closes,
4. Wi-Fi or a cable: a stable connection for the robot's conversations, ideally a separate network rather than the public guest Wi-Fi,
5. overnight storage: a lockable room if the event runs for several days.

More detail is in our guide on getting a robot into the venue, and technical fair rules are covered in the article on a robot at a stand abroad.

What do the AI Act and GDPR say about a robot talking to guests in Slovakia?

A humanoid robot that talks to guests through an AI system is subject to the same rules in Slovakia as in any other EU country, because the AI Act and GDPR are EU law. The European Commission states that Article 50 of the AI Act applies from 2 August 2026 and that people must be notified that they are interacting with an AI system from the start of the first interaction, in a clear and distinguishable way (European Commission). In practice a sign at the robot zone in Slovak and English plus a short line in the robot's first sentence does the job.

The supervisory authority for GDPR in Slovakia is the Office for Personal Data Protection of the Slovak Republic in Bratislava (dataprotection.gov.sk). If the robot's camera is on or it records video with guests, the organiser should agree with the provider before the event what is recorded, for how long and how guests are informed. Our checklist on cameras, GDPR and the AI Act helps here, and zone and distance rules are covered in the article on robot safety at events.

Which language should the robot speak at an event in Slovakia?

At an event in Slovakia the humanoid robot should speak Slovak first, and English at international fairs and congresses. Bratislava sits on the borders with Austria and Hungary, so German or Hungarian are worth adding when guests come from there. Language and voice are agreed with the provider before the event, together with the pronunciation of brand names and Slovak proper names, and then tested in the noise of the hall.

MERA Robotics prepares the robot's conversations in its own MERA OS system, which supports more than 30 languages, including Polish and English, with a voice matched to each language and a native accent.

How do you plan an event with a humanoid robot in Slovakia step by step?

1. Robot's role: greetings, conversations about the offer at the stand, a stage appearance or social media videos.
2. Venue documents: technical rules, set-up times, access, unloading and power.
3. Robot zone: position on the stand or room plan, distance from the audience, AI notice in Slovak and English.
4. Conversation content: knowledge about the company and the programme, languages, the robot's name and character.
5. Logistics: transport with operators, spare batteries, charging backstage, overnight storage.
6. On-site rehearsal: a conversation test in hall noise and a test walk from the zone to the stage.

Who can provide a humanoid robot for an event in Slovakia, and how do you choose a partner?

When choosing a company, check whether it:

1. has its own operators who travel with the robot and stay with it for the whole event,
2. has experience with events abroad and knows the rules of large exhibition venues,
3. runs conversations on its own software and confirms the languages before signing,
4. has more than one robot model and matches it to the room, stage or stand,
5. checks the robot before departure and brings spare batteries,
6. helps with the AI Act and GDPR, i.e. marking the zone and agreeing recording rules.

MERA Robotics from Warsaw rents Unitree G1 and Unitree H2 humanoid robots for events in Poland and abroad, including an international trade fair in Cannes in September 2026, and runs them on site with its own operators. The company programmes the robot's conversation and behaviour for each specific event, and its MERA OS system is used by clients in Poland, Romania and Germany. MERA Robotics checks every robot before it goes to an event. Pricing is individual and depends on how long the robot is present, the location and logistics; enquiries go to contact@merarobotics.com.

You will find the models in the catalogue of robots for rent and sale. How to vet a company with operators is explained in our guide to renting a humanoid robot with operators in Europe, and neighbouring markets are covered in the articles on the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary.