Canton Fair 2026: 140th Session Dates, Phases and Buyer Guide

What is the Canton Fair?

The Canton Fair was established in spring 1957 and has been held in Guangzhou every spring and autumn since. It was known as the Chinese Export Commodities Fair until 2007, when it took its current name, the China Import and Export Fair. It is co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC and the People's Government of Guangdong Province, and organised by the China Foreign Trade Centre (CFTC).

The organiser describes it as China's trade fair with the longest history, the largest scale and the largest buyer attendance, with trade relations established with more than 229 countries and regions. The fair runs twice a year, in spring (April–May) and autumn (October–November), and each session is divided into three phases. Exhibitors change between phases, while the venue stays the same throughout.

The 140th session (autumn 2026) has about 1.55 million square metres of exhibition space, and Xinhua reported more than 30,000 exhibitors across the session. Phase 1 alone covered 520,000 square metres with more than 12,000 exhibitors and over 25,000 booths, and drew 189,000 overseas buyers from 214 countries and regions.

Canton Fair 2026 Dates: 140th Session Phases

The 140th Canton Fair opened on 15 October 2026 and closes on 4 November 2026. The session is split into three five-day phases, with a three-day break between phases while exhibitors change over their booths. There is no onsite exhibition on 20–22 October or 28–30 October 2026, so do not plan meetings at the complex on those days.

• Phase 1 (advanced manufacturing): 15–19 October 2026 — finished
• Change-over, no onsite exhibition: 20–22 October 2026
• Phase 2 (quality home life): 23–27 October 2026 — upcoming
• Change-over, no onsite exhibition: 28–30 October 2026
• Phase 3 (better life): 31 October–4 November 2026 — upcoming

If you are planning a trip now, Phase 2 and Phase 3 are the phases still open to you this session. Match your travel dates to the phase that covers your product category, since the halls show completely different exhibitors in each phase.

Dates for the next session, the 141st (spring 2027), have not been officially announced. The organiser normally publishes session dates in advance; check the official site, cantonfair.org.cn, before booking flights or hotels, and treat any spring 2027 dates you see elsewhere as estimates until the organiser confirms them. To fit the fair into a wider trip, see the Guangzhou itinerary.

Phase-by-Phase Breakdown: What Products to Expect

Choosing the right phase is the most important planning decision, because each phase brings in a different set of exhibitors. If your products fall into categories in more than one phase, you may need to attend more than once or stay through a change-over break.

Phase 1, themed advanced manufacturing, covers machinery, electronics, vehicles and energy. Phase 2, quality home life, is the phase for home, gift and building products. Phase 3, better life, brings consumer goods such as clothing, toys, food, medical products and personal care. The sections listed for the 140th session are below.

1. Phase 1: Advanced manufacturing (15–19 October 2026)
   • Household electrical appliances and consumer electronics
   • Industrial automation, machinery, new materials and chemicals
   • New energy vehicles and smart mobility, vehicles and parts, motorcycles, bicycles
   • Lighting, electrical products, new energy, hardware and tools
   • Service robots
2. Phase 2: Quality home life (23–27 October 2026)
   • Ceramics, kitchenware and tableware, household items, glass artware
   • Gardening products, home decorations, festival products, gifts
   • Clocks and watches
   • Building and decorative materials, sanitary ware, furniture, prefabricated houses
   • Fashion jewellery
3. Phase 3: Better life (31 October–4 November 2026)
   • Toys, baby and maternity products
   • Clothing, underwear, sportswear, furs and leather, fashion accessories, shoes, bags
   • Textiles and fabrics, home textiles, carpets
   • Office supplies, sports and travel products, pet products
   • Food, medicines and medical devices, personal care products, toiletries
   • Rural vitalization and intelligent healthcare

Section names can shift slightly between official documents, so confirm that your category is listed for the phase you plan to attend on the official site before you travel.

Canton Fair Venue: Location and How to Get There

All three phases are held at the China Import and Export Fair Complex (Canton Fair Complex), No. 382 Yuejiang Zhong Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510335. The complex is in the Pazhou area of Haizhu District beside the Pearl River. The complex is divided into four areas:

• Area A: Halls 1–8
• Area B: Halls 9–13
• Area C: Halls 14–16
• Area D: Halls 17–20

By metro

Guangzhou Metro Line 8 serves the complex at two stations, and the exit you use depends on which area your meetings are in:

• Areas A and D: Line 8 Xingangdong (Xingang East) station, Exit A
• Area B: Line 8 Pazhou station, Exit A or Exit B
• Area C: Line 8 Pazhou station, Exit C, then walk about 300 m west

Pazhou station is also an interchange with Line 11, which opened on 28 December 2024. From the Line 11 concourse, Exits E and F lead to Area B. For fares, payment and how the network fits together, see the Guangzhou metro guide.

From the airport and railway stations

• From Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (Jichang Nan station): take Line 3 (north extension) to Tiyu Xi, change for Line 3 to Kecun, then change to Line 8 to Xingangdong (Areas A/D) or Pazhou (Areas B/C).
• From Guangzhou Railway Station: Line 2 to Changgang, then Line 8 to Xingangdong or Pazhou.
• From Guangzhou East Railway Station: Line 3 to Kecun, then Line 8 to Xingangdong or Pazhou.
• From Guangzhou South Railway Station: Line 2 to Changgang, then Line 8 to Xingangdong or Pazhou.

The airport and Guangzhou South Railway Station also have buyer badge offices, so overseas buyers arriving that way can collect their badge before heading to Pazhou.

Buyer Registration and Badges for Overseas Buyers

The Canton Fair is a trade event. Overseas buyers need a buyer badge to enter, and the general public cannot simply walk in as tourists. Mainland Chinese (domestic) buyers attend by invitation through trade delegations rather than through the overseas buyer process.

How to pre-register

Overseas buyers pre-register in the Buyer Service System on the official website (buyer.cantonfair.org.cn), which is open year-round. The steps are:

1. Create or log in to an account. Accounts from the previous BEST system carry over to the new system.
2. Upload a photo of your ID document.
3. Add your company details.
4. Verify your email address.
5. Submit a badge application under "Overseas Buyer Badge".

An invitation letter can only be requested after these steps are complete. Check entry requirements for your nationality with the relevant Chinese embassy or consulate well before you travel.

Collecting your badge

The buyer badge is free for overseas buyers who pre-register. To collect it, show the QR code from your registration, your original personal ID document and a company business card; a photocopy or electronic copy of the business card is accepted.

Holders of foreign passports or Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents can collect badges at alternative registration offices away from the complex: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Guangzhou South Railway Station, Pazhou Ferry Terminal, designated Guangzhou partner hotels and the Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office (by appointment). Badges can also be collected at the buyer registration offices at the complex. The organiser encourages buyers to use the alternative offices to save time.

Accepted ID documents

• Foreign passport
• Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Home Return Permit)
• Taiwan Compatriots Certificate
• Chinese passport with an overseas permanent residence permit or visa, or a valid overseas work visa of more than one year

Originals must be shown. The registration offices at the complex serve overseas Chinese with these documents; the alternative off-site offices serve foreign passport holders and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan permit holders.

Smart Sourcing Strategies: How to Navigate the Floor

The complex is large and a single phase fills several areas, so plan your day by area and hall before you arrive. Use the area-to-exit list above to pick the right metro station, and group meetings by area to avoid crossing the complex repeatedly. Wear comfortable shoes and carry a bag with room for catalogues and samples.

Collect business cards and photograph booth numbers to keep your notes organised. If your negotiations are technical, consider bringing an interpreter. Set up a mobile payment app such as Alipay or WeChat Pay before you arrive, as it makes paying for meals and local transport much easier.

Verify a manufacturer's credentials and export history before signing large contracts. Ask for samples to be sent to your office for quality testing after the fair, and compare several vendors in the same category to find the right balance of price and quality.

Where to Stay During the Fair

Staying in the Pazhou area keeps your daily commute to the complex short. Alternatively, a hotel near a Line 8 or Line 11 station gives you a direct metro ride to Xingangdong or Pazhou. Tianhe, Guangzhou's central business district, offers more dining options in the evening.

Hotels fill up during fair phases, so book as early as you can once your phase is fixed. Some designated Guangzhou hotels are also badge collection points for overseas buyers; ask your hotel whether it is one of them when you book.

Common Mistakes to Avoid at the Canton Fair

The most common mistake is arriving on a change-over day. During the 140th session there is no onsite exhibition on 20–22 October or 28–30 October 2026, while exhibitors swap booths between phases. The second is attending the wrong phase: check the product list for each phase against your category before booking.

Skipping online pre-registration is another avoidable problem. Pre-register in the Buyer Service System, and collect your badge at an alternative office such as the airport or Guangzhou South Railway Station rather than queueing at the complex. Bring your original ID document and a business card, since you need both to collect the badge.

Do not leave shipping and customs to the end. Discuss shipping terms and minimum order quantities early in your conversations with suppliers, and do not rely on the fair alone for supplier checks.

Using the Change-Over Days: Factory Visits

The three-day breaks between phases are a practical window for factory visits. Seeing a production line lets you check quality control processes and meet the management team, which matters before placing high-value orders.

A professional sourcing agent can help if you are managing complex orders or technical specifications. Agents can carry out pre-shipment inspections and handle local logistics on your behalf.