Giant Robots Battle in Detroit's Robowar

A Detroit impresario is bringing the cultural fantasy of fighting robots to the stage with a live audience.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 1:50pm

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In the back of a church in Detroit, performers dressed as giant robots battle it out in front of a live audience behind bullet-proof glass. The show, called Robowar, is run by Art Cartwright, who also founded the church and the Interactive Combat League organization behind the robot fights. Robowar features both human-operated mech suits and real robots, including robot dogs and child-sized humanoids, and has been selling out shows since launching last summer.

Why it matters

The rise of Robowar in Detroit highlights the city's growing prominence in the robotics industry, with Cartwright noting that metropolitan Detroit currently leads the nation in robotics. The show also taps into a longstanding cultural fantasy around fighting robots, which has been explored in science fiction stories and films dating back to the 1950s.

The details

The Robowar shows feature nine-foot-tall metal gladiators that shoot exploding projectiles at 20 rounds per second. Cartwright plans to eventually stage online interactive robot fights where remote viewers can control the action by buying virtual tokens. The show also features real robots, including robot dogs and child-sized humanoids that dance and pose for pictures.

  • Robowar launched last summer and has been selling out shows since then.
  • The show runs every few months in the 572-seat auditorium.

The players

Art Cartwright

The impresario who founded both the Global Empowerment Ministries church and the Interactive Combat League organization behind the Robowar robot fights.

Kaden Denard

A 10-year-old audience member who refers to the robots as "clankers" and wants to be "mean to the robots".

Nawal Denard

Kaden Denard's mother, who jokingly warns him to "be nice to them before they finish you".

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What they’re saying

“We have these nine foot tall metal gladiators that shoot exploding projectiles at 20 rounds a second.”

— Art Cartwright, Impresario (NPR)

“They are clankers! I want to be mean to the robots! They are clankers!”

— Kaden Denard (NPR)

“You better be nice to them before they finish you.”

— Nawal Denard, Mother (NPR)

What’s next

Cartwright says he eventually plans to stage online interactive robot fights where remote viewers can control the action by buying virtual tokens.

The takeaway

Robowar taps into a longstanding cultural fantasy around fighting robots, while also highlighting Detroit's growing prominence in the robotics industry. The show's mix of human-operated mech suits and real robots has been drawing large crowds and national attention.