For buyers asking what is Canton Fair in China, the formal name is the China Import and Export Fair. It has been held in Guangzhou since 1957, twice a year, and China’s Ministry of Commerce describes it as the country’s largest and longest-running international trade fair. It regularly features in lists of the largest trade shows in the world by exhibition area. The question most buyers planning the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China really need answered, though, is simpler: which days should I be there?
Autumn 2026 dates at a glance
The 140th session’s on-site exhibition schedule, as published on the official site (cantonfair.org.cn) and in Ministry of Commerce announcements:
| Phase | On-site dates | Main product themes |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | October 15–19, 2026 | Electronics and appliances, manufacturing and industrial automation, vehicles and two-wheelers, lighting and electrical, hardware and tools |
| Phase 2 | October 23–27, 2026 | Building materials and furniture, housewares, gifts and decorations (including a fashion jewellery zone) |
| Phase 3 | October 31–November 4, 2026 | Toys, children, baby and maternity; fashion and home textiles; stationery; health and recreation |
There is no on-site exhibition during the intervals of October 20–22 and October 28–30, 2026. The organiser states a total exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters for this session. Exact hall allocations are published by the organiser closer to the date — check the official site before finalising your plans.
The venue: China Import and Export Fair Complex
All phases take place at the China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, in the Pazhou area of Haizhu District — often searched simply as the Canton Fair complex Guangzhou. The complex is split into several exhibition areas connected by walkways, and a single phase can fill all of them. Two practical consequences:
- Walking time is real. Moving between the far ends of the complex can take a significant part of an hour once crowds are factored in. Group your booth meetings by hall.
- Metro is usually faster than taxis at opening and closing times, when roads around Pazhou are congested. Guangzhou Metro stations serve the complex directly; check the current station names on the official visitor guide.
How to choose the right phase
Start from your product’s category rather than the calendar. A buyer of LED fixtures belongs in Phase 1; a buyer of ceramic tableware in Phase 2; a buyer of baby clothing in Phase 3. Categories that straddle two themes — for example smart home devices (electronics or housewares?) — may appear in more than one phase, so check the exhibitor categories online.
If your range spans phases, the intervals between them are useful: they give you two or three days to visit factories in the Pearl River Delta between phases. Many factories exhibiting in Guangzhou are located in nearby cities, which makes a short factory trip realistic.
A sample five-day plan for one phase
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Badge collection, orientation walk, pre-booked meetings with top-priority suppliers |
| Day 2 | Systematic walk of your core halls; collect specs, MOQs and lead times |
| Day 3 | Second meetings with the strongest candidates; request samples |
| Day 4 | Adjacent categories and new suppliers; note materials and packaging ideas |
| Day 5 | Final follow-ups; start a factory visit or book one for the interval |
This is a template, not a rule. Buyers with a tight brief often need only two or three days on site and use the rest for factory visits.
Common planning mistakes
- Arriving on the wrong phase. Buyers sometimes book around a single date they saw online and find their category was in an earlier phase. Always check the phase allocation for the current session.
- No meetings booked. Walking the halls without appointments works for discovery, but the best exhibitors are busy. Send your RFQ before you travel and book time slots.
- Carrying too many catalogues. Photograph catalogues and booth information instead, and ask for PDFs by email.
- No interval plan. The days between phases are ideal for factory visits; leaving them empty wastes the trip.
- Overlooking the online platform. The organiser runs an online platform alongside the physical fair; use it to research exhibitors before and after the on-site days.
If you are unsure which suppliers to meet, the industry pages on CifyChina show which listed companies publish each process, and the documented inquiry cases show how real orders in similar categories were scoped.
Budget items to plan for
Costs vary too much by season, hotel and travel class to quote meaningful figures, but these are the line items to budget:
- Hotel. Rates near Pazhou rise sharply during fair weeks; booking early or staying further out along a metro line helps.
- Visa and travel. Check current entry requirements for your nationality well in advance.
- Buyer registration. Pre-register as a buyer through the official site; follow its current instructions for badges.
- Samples and couriers. Plan how you will get samples home — carrying them or shipping them by courier.
- Interpreter or local support. Many exhibitors speak English, but an interpreter or a Guangzhou sourcing agent can help with factory visits and technical discussions.
After the fair: turning contacts into quotes
Within a week of returning, send every serious candidate the same written RFQ so their quotes are comparable. The terms that decide whether two quotes really match — FOB vs DDP, MOQ, inspection standard — are explained in our FOB price vs DDP landed cost guide. If you plan to ship to the US, our China-to-US shipping timeline helps you work back from the date you need goods on the shelf.
Prefer not to go at all? Many buyers use the fair’s dates as a deadline rather than a trip: shortlist through the CifyChina supplier directory, browse by industry, and request samples directly. Weisourcing’s exhibitor vetting checklist covers how to check booths if you do attend.
Not sure which phase — or which booths — fit your product?
Send your drawing or product photo. We will tell you which phase your category falls into and which suppliers in the CifyChina directory already make it, so you can book meetings before you fly. No fee for the shortlist.