Canton Fair Autumn 2026: Phase Dates & Buyer Guide

Last checked: 2026-10-16. Rules change; always confirm with the official source before you travel.

The China Import and Export Fair, better known as the Canton Fair, is China's largest trade fair and the easiest way for a foreign buyer to meet a huge number of manufacturers in one trip. The 140th session (autumn 2026) is held in Guangzhou in three phases from 15 October to 4 November 2026. China's Ministry of Commerce said more than 32,000 companies would take part.

Autumn 2026 phase dates and what each covers

Product groups are summarised from the organiser's official phase list. Exhibitor lists are published on the official website and app, so search for your category before booking flights; you only need to be there for the phase that covers your products.

How to get your free buyer badge

1. Pre-register online on the official Canton Fair website or app. New buyers create an account, complete the pre-registration questionnaire and apply for an Overseas Buyer Badge. Returning buyers log in, confirm their details and complete the questionnaire.
2. Save the pre-registration QR code receipt.
3. Bring the right documents: your original foreign passport (or another accepted ID), a business card and the QR code receipt.
4. Collect the badge at one of the organiser's alternative registration offices, which are set up away from the complex for faster processing, or at the registration offices at the complex.

According to the organiser, new applications, replacements and renewals are all free of charge. A valid Overseas Buyer Badge from a previous session can be used again without activation. Badges issued on the basis of a work visa at or before the 134th session are no longer valid; those holders need a Purchasing Agent Badge instead. If you need a visa, new buyers can request an invitation letter through the badge application.

Entering China for the fair

• 30-day visa-free entry: if your passport is on the unilateral exemption list (most of Europe, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and others), you can enter for business visits of up to 30 days without a visa until 31 December 2026. Check the list in our visa-free guide.
• 240-hour visa-free transit: nationals of 57 countries, including the United States, can stay up to 10 days if they arrive from one country and leave for a third country or region with a confirmed onward ticket. Hong Kong and Macau count as a third region, so a route such as Los Angeles–Guangzhou–Hong Kong can qualify. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is one of the 65 designated ports. Check the permitted stay area for your port before planning side trips.
• Everyone else needs a business (M) visa; apply early, as fair season is busy.
• Attending a trade fair and meeting suppliers are short-term business activities allowed under visa-free entry. Paid work is not.

Getting there and getting around

• The fair is held at the China Import and Export Fair Complex, 382 Yuejiang Zhong Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, in the Pazhou area.
• Metro Line 8 serves the complex (Xingang East and Pazhou stations). Pay with the Alipay or WeChat transport QR code, so set up mobile payments before you fly.
• Hotels near Pazhou and along Line 8 fill up and become much more expensive during fair weeks. Book early, or stay further out along a metro line. See our hotel guide for foreigners.
• From Hong Kong, high-speed trains from West Kowloon reach Guangzhou in about an hour.

How to work the fair efficiently

• Shortlist exhibitors in your category in the app before you arrive and plan your route hall by hall. The complex is very large.
• Bring plenty of business cards and have WeChat ready; almost every supplier will ask to add you. See essential apps.
• Photograph each booth sign, product and price sheet, and label the photos with the supplier's name the same evening.
• Ask the same core questions at every booth: factory or trading company, minimum order quantity, sample cost and lead time, production lead time, main export markets and certificates held.
• Do not pay deposits at the fair. Compare quotes at home on landed cost (product, packaging, freight, duty), not unit price alone.
• Ask whether samples can be couriered to you, so you are not carrying them home.

After the fair: visit the factory

A booth shows a supplier's best products; a factory visit shows whether they can make them at your volume and quality. Many buyers add a few days after their phase for visits. Guangdong's manufacturing clusters are close to Guangzhou, for example Foshan for furniture and ceramics, Shenzhen and Dongguan for electronics and hardware, and Shantou's Chenghai district for toys. Use our factory visit checklist to prepare, and remember that a short business trip can be combined with travel elsewhere in China.

When is the next Canton Fair?

The fair is held twice a year: a spring session that usually runs from mid-April to early May, and an autumn session from mid-October to early November. Dates for the spring 2027 session will be posted on the official website.

FAQ

When is the Canton Fair in autumn 2026?

The 140th Canton Fair runs in three phases in Guangzhou: 15–19 October, 23–27 October and 31 October–4 November 2026.

Is the Canton Fair buyer badge free?

Yes. The organiser says new overseas buyer badges, replacements and renewals are free. Pre-register online and bring your passport, a business card and the QR code receipt.

Can I attend the Canton Fair without a visa?

Yes, if your passport qualifies for China's 30-day visa-free entry, or if you use 240-hour visa-free transit with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. Attending a trade fair is a permitted short-term business activity.

Official sources

• Canton Fair: General information and session dates
• Canton Fair: Badge guide for overseas buyers
• NIA: Unilateral visa-exemption country list
• NIA: 240-hour visa-free transit policy