What Are the Canton Fair 2026 Dates?
Canton Fair 2026 dates refer to the official schedule of the 139th and 140th China Import and Export Fair, held twice yearly in Guangzhou, China, across two sessions each divided into three product-specific phases. The Spring session runs from April 15 to May 5, 2026. The Autumn session runs from October 15 to November 4, 2026.
The Spring 2026 session breaks down across three back-to-back phases at the China Import and Export Fair Complex, Pazhou Island, Guangzhou (No. 382 Yuejiang Middle Road, Haizhu District). All phases open daily from 09:30 to 18:00, including weekends. Each phase targets a distinct product vertical, meaning if you arrive during the wrong phase for your sourcing category, you are walking through halls that have nothing to do with your business.
According to the China Foreign Trade Centre (CFTC), the Spring 2025 edition attracted 288,938 overseas buyers from 219 countries, a 17.3% increase year-on-year, with on-site export deal intentions reaching $25.44 billion (PRNewswire, May 2025). That kind of momentum heading into 2026 makes early planning, including flights, hotels, and badge registration, non-negotiable rather than optional.
Here’s the thing: the four-day gaps between phases are not dead time. They are built into the schedule deliberately so exhibitors can reconfigure booths and multi-phase buyers can manage travel logistics without rushing from one session to the next.
Full Phase Breakdown: What Is Sold in Each Phase
Understanding phase structure is the single most important thing a first-time Canton Fair buyer can do before booking a flight.
Each phase is essentially a separate trade event running in the same venue. The categories do not overlap.
Spring 2026 (139th Canton Fair)
| Phase | Dates | Product Categories |
| Phase 1 | April 15–19, 2026 | Electronics, appliances, machinery, tools, NEVs, new energy, lighting |
| Phase 2 | April 23–27, 2026 | Furniture, home decor, gifts, building materials, consumer goods |
| Phase 3 | May 1–5, 2026 | Textiles, garments, medical devices, health products, children’s items, food |
Autumn 2026 (140th Canton Fair)
| Phase | Dates | Product Categories |
| Phase 1 | October 15–19, 2026 | Electronics, hardware, machinery, tools, and new energy |
| Phase 2 | October 23–27, 2026 | Consumer goods, gifts, shoes, textiles, home products |
| Phase 3 | October 31–Nov 4, 2026 | Garments, medical, health, food, office, and sports products |
We have seen conflicting data on the Autumn Phase 3 end date. Some third-party sources list November 5; others list November 4. The official Canton Fair schedule published by CFTC confirms October 31 to November 4 for Autumn Phase 3. Use that date when planning travel.
One thing worth flagging: Spring Phase 3 runs from May 1 to May 5, which overlaps directly with China’s Labor Day public holiday (May 1 to 5). Venue entry queues and local transport can be significantly heavier during this window compared to other phases. Factor that into your day planning.
Spring vs Autumn: Which 2026 Session Actually Makes More Sense for You?
Some sourcing consultants argue that the Spring session is always the superior choice because of higher international buyer density and broader product availability across phases. That is valid for buyers sourcing across multiple unrelated categories in a single trip.
Spring 2026 vs Autumn 2026: Spring is better suited for electronics, machinery, and multi-category sourcing because international buyer attendance historically peaks in April, giving you access to a wider supplier network and sharper competitive pricing across product verticals. Autumn works better when your product category is textiles, fashion, or holiday merchandise. The key difference is matching product category timing to your seasonal order cycle.
Or maybe we should frame it this way: if you are importing seasonal items such as Christmas décor, winter fashion, or gift sets, the Autumn session is not a backup plan. It is the strategically correct session. You are placing October orders for Q4 delivery. The Spring session is designed for buyers who need a longer lead time for mid-year product launches.
The 138th Canton Fair Autumn 2025 drew over 310,000 overseas buyers from 223 countries, a 7.5% increase over the prior Spring session (China Daily, November 2025). That flips the common assumption that Spring always outperforms Autumn on attendance figures.
Most people assume Spring buyers are more serious. The data says otherwise.
Quick Comparison
| Session / Phase | Best For | Key Benefit | Limitation |
| Spring (Apr–May) | Electronics, general multi-category sourcing | Peak international buyer density | Humid Guangzhou weather; higher hotel rates |
| Autumn (Oct–Nov) | Textiles, seasonal goods, holiday merchandise | Cooler weather; ideal Q4 order timing | US/EU attendance varies with trade cycles |
| Phase 1 (Both) | Tech importers, EV/NEV buyers | High-value machinery negotiations | Not relevant for lifestyle or consumer product buyers |
| Phase 2 (Both) | Home decor, gifts, and small business owners | Broadest product range per phase | Extremely crowded; exhibitor pre-selection essential |
| Phase 3 (Both) | Fashion, healthcare, and food importers | Medical device section growing fastest | Spring Phase 3 overlaps with Labor Day holiday |
How to Register and Get Your Buyer Badge
To register for the Canton Fair 2026 as an international buyer, follow these steps:
- Visit buyer.cantonfair.org.cn and click the “Buyer” registration tab.
- Create an account and upload your passport alongside your business card or company credentials.
- Select which phase or phases you plan to attend and submit your pre-registration.
- Wait for approval. International buyers receive a confirmation email once approved.
- Download or print your Buyer Entry Badge before departure.
- Collect your physical badge onsite by presenting your confirmation email and passport.
Registration is free for international buyers. That is real, and it is consistently undersold in most sourcing guides.
What most guides skip entirely: several hotels in the Pazhou and Tianhe districts operate onsite badge-printing partnerships with the fair. You collect your physical badge at the hotel front desk instead of joining the venue entry queues on opening morning. If you are arriving on Phase 1 opening day, that single shortcut saves at least 45 minutes.
The Canton Fair App (iOS and Android) connects directly to the Buyer Service System, lets you pre-map exhibitor booth routes by hall number, schedule supplier meetings in advance, and receive live notifications during active fair days. Download it before departure, not on arrival. The on-site WiFi works well, but you will need a VPN to access Google services and Gmail while in mainland China.
Look: if you have attended other large international trade shows and you think registration is the straightforward part, the Canton Fair’s scale changes that assumption. The complex covers 1.55 million square metres across multiple interconnected halls. Arriving without a pre-built exhibitor shortlist, sorted by hall number and phase, is the most common rookie mistake, and it is entirely avoidable.
Getting to Guangzhou: Transport, Hotels, and Practical Logistics
The venue. Never changes. China Import and Export Fair Complex, Pazhou Island, No. 382 Yuejiang Middle Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou.
Guangzhou Metro Line 8 is the standard route for most international attendees. Ride it to Pazhou Station, which connects directly to the fair complex entrance. If you are arriving via high-speed rail at Guangzhou South Station, the metro grid connects from there as well. From Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, a dedicated express shuttle runs directly to the complex every 30 minutes between 13:00 and 18:00 on active fair days. Didi works reliably for shorter city trips, but expect surge pricing on Phase 1 opening day. Set up the app and link a payment method before you land, not at the airport.
Hotels near Pazhou fill up 6 to 8 weeks before opening day. The Tianhe and Haizhu districts both offer strong alternatives with direct Metro access. Budget options within 3 km of the venue disappear first. Eight weeks out is the booking threshold that experienced attendees consistently recommend, and it holds true for both sessions.
Quick note: an M visa (Chinese business visa) is required for most international buyers. Your Canton Fair invitation letter, issued after buyer registration is approved, can be submitted directly with your visa application. Consular processing times vary significantly by country and by season. Start the visa process as soon as your registration confirmation arrives, not after flights are booked.
5 Questions Buyers Ask Out Loud
Spring 2026 runs across three phases: April 15–19 (Phase 1), April 23–27 (Phase 2), and May 1–5 (Phase 3). All phases are held at the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou, open 09:30 to 18:00 daily, including weekends.
Visit buyer.cantonfair.org.cn, create a buyer account, upload your passport and company credentials, select your phase or phases, and submit. Registration is free for international buyers once approved.
Attend only the phase that matches your product category. Each phase covers entirely different industries. Attending all three only makes commercial sense if you source across multiple unrelated verticals in a single trip.
The Autumn 2026 session runs: Phase 1, October 15–19; Phase 2, October 23–27, and Phase 3, October 31 to November 4. Same venue as the Spring session at Pazhou Island, Guangzhou.
The four-day gaps are a structural feature of the fair, not scheduling downtime. They allow exhibitors to fully reconfigure booths between product verticals and give multi-phase buyers time to travel, rest, and prepare their meeting schedule for the next session.
Your 2026 Canton Fair Trip Starts With the Right Phase
Getting the dates right is the easy part. The buyers who get the most out of Canton Fair 2026 are the ones who arrive knowing exactly which phase matches their product category, with their badge already collected, their exhibitor shortlist mapped by hall, and their hotels locked in at least eight weeks before opening day.
Spring or Autumn. Phase 1, 2 or 3. The decision tree is simpler than most guides make it sound.
If you source electronics, machinery, or new energy products, Phase 1 (April 15–19 or October 15–19) is your window. Home decor, gifts, and consumer goods buyers belong in Phase 2 (April 23–27 or October 23–27). Textiles, healthcare, and food importers should plan around Phase 3 (May 1–5 or October 31–November 4).
We have tried to give you both sessions, all six phases, and every practical logistical detail in a single place. Most articles online give you half the picture.
One last thing worth saying plainly: the official Buyer Service System at buyer.cantonfair.org.cn is your first stop, not your last. Register early, download theCanton Fair App before you fly, and apply for your M visa the moment your invitation letter is issued. The fair rewards preparation more consistently than almost any other trade event in the world.
This guide works best for international importers, wholesale buyers, and e-commerce sellers planning a sourcing trip to Guangzhou in 2026. It does not cover logistics for domestic Chinese buyers, freight forwarding contracts, or exhibitor booth applications. Those require separate, dedicated guides.
Last updated: April 2026
This guide covers confirmed phase dates, registration steps, and logistics for both 2026 Canton Fair sessions. It does NOT address individual exhibitor booth assignments, live visa processing timelines by consulate, or freight forwarding rates. Those change per session and per country.
