Quick answer
The 140th Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair) takes place at the Canton Fair Complex in Pazhou, Guangzhou, in three phases: Phase 1 on October 15–19, 2026 (electronics, machinery, vehicles, lighting, hardware), Phase 2 on October 23–27 (home goods, gifts, building materials, furniture) and Phase 3 on October 31–November 4 (toys, apparel, shoes, bags, textiles, health and personal care, food, pet products). Overseas buyers pre-register online, then collect a buyer badge with their original passport.
The Canton Fair is China's largest general trade fair, held every spring and autumn in Guangzhou since 1957. For a buyer, it is a chance to see thousands of exporters in one place, handle products, and shortlist suppliers faster than you could online. This guide covers the autumn 2026 session: when each phase runs, how registration works, and how to turn booth conversations into real orders.
The autumn 2026 session is split into three five-day phases, and each phase shows different product categories. The dates below come from the fair's official 2026 attendance guide for overseas buyers, checked in September 2026.
| Phase | Dates | Main exhibition sections |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | October 15–19, 2026 | Household electrical appliances, consumer electronics, industrial automation, machinery (processing, power, construction, agricultural), new materials and chemicals, new energy vehicles, vehicles and spare parts, motorcycles, bicycles, lighting, electronic and electrical products, new energy resources, hardware, tools |
| Phase 2 | October 23–27, 2026 | Ceramics, kitchenware and tableware, household items, glass artware, home decorations, gardening products, festival products, gifts and premiums, clocks and watches, weaving/rattan/iron products, building and decorative materials, sanitary and bathroom equipment, furniture, prefabricated houses |
| Phase 3 | October 31–November 4, 2026 | Toys, baby and maternity products, kids' and adult clothing, underwear, sportswear, furs/leather/down, fashion accessories, textile raw materials and fabrics, shoes, cases and bags, home textiles, carpets, office supplies, medicines and medical devices, food, sports and travel products, personal care, toiletries, pet products |
There are no exhibition days between phases (October 20–22 and 28–30), which is when exhibitors change over. The fair notes that section arrangements can change, and it also runs special zones such as service robots and intelligent healthcare, so check the official website shortly before you travel.
Tip
Match the phase to your order, not your curiosity
Each phase is large enough to fill several days on its own. If your product sits between categories (for example, LED home decor could appear under lighting in Phase 1 or home decorations in Phase 2), search the exhibitor list on the official platform before choosing dates.
The fair is held at the China Import and Export Fair Complex, No. 382 Yuejiang Zhong Road, Guangzhou, on Pazhou Island in Haizhu District. The complex is divided into Areas A, B, C and D, with halls numbered 1 to 20 on the 2026 site map.
Metro Line 8 is the simplest way in. The fair's transport guidance directs visitors to Xingang Dong station for Area A and Pazhou station for Areas B and C. Hotels near Pazhou fill up and raise prices during fair weeks, so many buyers stay elsewhere along Line 8 or near other metro lines and commute.
Overseas buyers need a buyer badge to enter, and the process has two steps: pre-register online, then collect the physical badge in Guangzhou.
The fair recommends collecting badges away from the complex to avoid queues on opening days.
Whether you need a visa depends on your passport, and the rules have changed several times since 2024. Check them close to your travel date.
For more on combining the fair with factory visits and payments on the ground, see our China sourcing trip planning guide.
The buyers who get the most out of the Canton Fair arrive with a shortlist, a budget and clear questions. Walking the halls without a plan usually produces a bag of catalogs and no usable quotes.
Many exhibitors are trading companies rather than factories. That is not a problem in itself, but you should know which one you are talking to. Our guide on factory vs trading company explains how to tell.
Most orders are won or lost in the two weeks after the fair, when every exhibitor is answering hundreds of inquiries. Follow up fast and in a structured way.
Risk
Booth samples are not production
The sample on the stand is often the best unit the exhibitor has. Confirm specs in your purchase order and inspect the bulk goods before you pay the balance.
Pick the phase that matches your product category, because each phase shows a different set of exhibition sections. If you buy across categories, compare the official section list and prioritize the phase that holds your largest order lines.
It depends on your nationality. Many nationalities can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for business under China's unilateral visa-exemption policy; others need a visa or may qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit. Check the National Immigration Administration's current lists before you book flights.
After online pre-registration, overseas buyers can collect the badge at alternative registration offices such as Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Guangzhou South Railway Station, Pazhou Ferry Terminal and designated hotels, or at registration offices at the fair complex. Bring your original, valid passport.
The fair is for meeting suppliers, comparing products and negotiating, not for carrying goods home. Orders are normally confirmed after the fair with a written purchase order, samples and agreed payment terms.
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Sourcing & logistics editors, Yiwu
Guides are researched and written by sourcing and logistics editors who work day to day with factories, QC inspectors and freight forwarders in Yiwu, Zhejiang. Every guide cites its sources and is reviewed when rules or prices change.
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