Canton Fair 2026: dates, phases and visitor guide

What is the Canton Fair?

The Canton Fair's official name is the China Import and Export Fair — 中国进出口商品交易会 in Chinese. Founded in 1957, it is held every spring and every autumn in Guangzhou, the city formerly known as Canton, at the Pazhou exhibition complex. The autumn 2026 session is the 140th.

It is the country's oldest and largest general trade fair: 1.55 million square metres of exhibition space and more than 30,000 exhibiting companies per session. The spring 2026 session welcomed 314,000 overseas buyers on site, from 220 countries and regions.

The whole catalogue of Chinese industry cannot fit in the halls at once, so the fair runs in three successive phases, each devoted to one family of products. That is the point to settle before booking a flight.

Canton Fair 2026: dates of the 140th session

The autumn 2026 session runs from 15 October to 4 November 2026, in three five-day phases separated by two three-day breaks used to dismantle and rebuild the booths.

The halls generally open from 9:30 am to 6 pm; closing time may be brought forward on some days, especially the last day of each phase.

What you will find in each phase

Phase 1 — industry and technology. Household electrical appliances, consumer electronics, industrial automation and smart manufacturing, processing machinery, power machinery and electric power, construction and agricultural machinery, new materials and chemicals, new energy vehicles and smart mobility, vehicles, spare parts, motorcycles and bicycles, lighting, electrical products, new energy, hardware, tools and service robots.

Phase 2 — the home. Ceramics, kitchenware and tableware, household items, glass artware, gardening products, weaving, rattan and iron products, home decorations, festival products, gifts and premiums, clocks, watches and optical instruments, building and decorative materials, sanitary and bathroom equipment, furniture, fashion jewellery, prefabricated houses and courtyard facilities.

Phase 3 — textiles, fashion and daily life. Toys, baby and maternity products, kids' wear, men's and women's clothing, underwear, sports and casual wear, fur, leather and down, fashion accessories, shoes, textile raw materials and fabrics, cases and bags, home textiles, carpets, office supplies, food, medicines and medical devices, personal care, toiletries, sports, travel and recreation products, pet products, and a zone dedicated to smart healthcare.

The split varies slightly from one session to the next. Before fixing your dates, check the phase of your exact category on the hall plan published on the official website: coming in the wrong phase means finding the halls taken by another sector.

Canton Fair 2027: expected spring dates

The 141st session, in spring 2027, is expected to follow the usual rhythm: three phases between mid-April and early May. The dates below are those announced; have them confirmed by the organiser before making any non-refundable booking.

Registering and getting your buyer badge

Entry is for trade visitors only. Online pre-registration is mandatory for every overseas buyer, whether it is your first visit or not. It is done on the fair's official website or in its app, with your passport and your company details.

The buyer badge is free when applied for online; registering on the spot may incur a fee. Once registered, you collect the badge at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Guangzhou South Railway Station, Pazhou Ferry Terminal, partner hotels or the Hong Kong representative office.

The same online account issues an official invitation letter, generated automatically with the badge application. It is the document to attach to a business visa application when your nationality requires one.

Canton Fair visa: what to know

Ordinary passport holders from more than forty countries — including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Ireland — can enter China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, for business or tourism. The exemption runs until 31 December 2026, so it covers the autumn 2026 session.

For the spring 2027 session, check whether the exemption has been extended before you travel — it has been renewed every year so far, but nothing is automatic. Other nationalities apply for a business visa with the fair's invitation letter. In every case, carry a passport valid for more than six months after your date of entry.

Getting to the Pazhou complex

The complex sits on Pazhou island, south-east of central Guangzhou. The metro is the easiest way in: Line 8, Xingangdong or Pazhou station depending on the exhibition area, or Line 11, Pazhou station. Areas A, B, C and D are connected on foot, but the site is vast: check in advance which area your phase uses to pick the right station.

Accommodation is the item to sort out first. During the fair, hotels near Pazhou charge several times their normal rates and fill up weeks ahead. A hotel a few stops away on Line 8 is often the best compromise.

On site, everyday payments go almost entirely through WeChat Pay and Alipay, which now accept foreign bank cards: install them and link your card before you leave.

Making the most of your visit

• Pick the right phase, then mark the halls of your category on the official plan in advance: without a shortlist, the day goes on wandering.
• Tell manufacturers from trading companies. A large share of exhibitors are trading companies that have goods made elsewhere. That is not a flaw in itself, but it changes the price, the lead time and the control over quality.
• Ask the same questions at every booth: minimum order quantity, FOB price, production lead time, certifications available, payment terms. That is what lets you compare in the evening.
• Photograph the booth number with every business card you collect: after three days on the floor, memories blur.
• Sign nothing on the spot. The fair is for shortlisting; samples, supplier verification and negotiation come afterwards.
• Plan factory visits right after. Guangdong's big industrial clusters — Foshan, Dongguan, Shenzhen — are one or two hours from Guangzhou, and the break days between phases suit them well.