Canton Fair

About the exhibition

The Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair) is China’s largest comprehensive trade fair. The 140th autumn session runs 15 October–4 November 2026 at the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou. Official phase themes: Advanced Manufacturing, Quality Home Life, and Better Life. Dates by phase: Phase 1 — 15–19 October; Phase 2 — 23–27 October; Phase 3 — 31 October–4 November 2026. Pick the phase that matches your product category. Phase 1 (15–19 October) — Advanced Manufacturing. Core stage for electronics, industrial equipment, machinery, transport, energy, and components. Categories: household appliances; consumer electronics; IT products; industrial automation; intelligent manufacturing; production equipment; energy equipment; construction machinery; agricultural machinery; new materials; chemicals; EVs; intelligent transport; automobiles; auto parts; motorcycles; bicycles; lighting; electrical products; renewable and alternative energy; tools and equipment. Phase 2 (23–27 October) — Quality Home Life. Home, interior, gifts, and selected building categories. Categories: ceramics; tableware; kitchenware; household goods; glassware; interior décor; garden products; festive products; gifts; watches; optical goods; furniture; building materials; sanitary ware. Phase 3 (31 October–4 November) — Better Life. Strongest fit for apparel, accessories, marketplaces, and retail. Categories: men’s and women’s apparel; underwear; sports and casual wear; fabrics and textile materials; footwear; bags and luggage; home textiles; carpets; toys; children’s clothing; kids and newborn goods; maternity products; stationery; food; medical products; health products; personal care; sports, travel and leisure; pet products. These scopes are officially listed for Phase 3 of the 140th fair. How to work the fair: solo trip; trip with an interpreter; organised business tour; remote sourcing (without flying in); factory audit after shortlisting. What to bring to negotiations: brief/spec, samples or references, target price, MOQ, shortlist of factories, day route by halls, and a prepared question list. How to qualify a supplier on the stand: ask who owns the factory, where production is, capacity and lead times, export experience, certifications, and sample/MOQ policy. Factory signs: production photos, engineers on the booth, clear workshop address. Trading-company signs: vague “many factories”, no plant details, only catalogue prices. After the fair — from contact to first shipment: background check → samples → agreed specification → contract → pre-shipment inspection → logistics. When not to go: you need one narrow SKU only; the order is too small to justify the trip; you have no budget for post-fair verification or samples; you must buy immediately and cannot wait for sampling and contracts. FAQ Do I need a buyer badge? Yes — register as a buyer on the official Canton Fair site before the session; bring confirmation and ID. Is one phase enough? Usually yes if your category fits one phase; plan 2–3 full days for that phase, not a single afternoon. Spring vs autumn? Same three-phase logic twice a year; this page covers the autumn 2026 dates above — always re-check the official calendar. Visa: most foreign buyers need a China business (M) visa; start early if you need an invitation letter. English on stands? Larger exporters often have English speakers; for technical talks an interpreter still helps. Official site: https://www.cantonfair.org.cn — always verify final dates and badge rules there.

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