Canton Fair 2026: The Complete Visitor's Guide to China's Biggest Trade Fair

Canton Fair 2026: What You Need to Know

The 140th Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair) opens October 15, 2026 in Guangzhou and runs through November 4. It is China's largest trade fair — and for first-time visitors, it is also a surprisingly easy gateway to seeing a modern Chinese city between meetings.

Dates and Three Phases

The fair runs in three phases at the Pazhou Complex on Guangzhou's Pearl River:

• Phase 1 — Advanced Manufacturing: October 15–19. Electronics, new energy vehicles, industrial automation and a dedicated Service Robots zone with humanoid robots, robot dogs and coffee robots.
• Phase 2 — Quality Home Life: October 23–27. Furniture, housewares, gifts and a Fashion Jewelry zone showing Chinese aesthetics in new materials.
• Phase 3 — Better Life: October 31 – November 4. Toys, fashion, food, sports and an Intelligent Healthcare zone.

Total exhibition space is about 1.55 million square meters with more than 75,000 booths and 30,000+ exhibitors expected.

Registration and Badges for Foreign Buyers

Pre-registration on the Canton Fair website is open year-round. First-time overseas buyers can apply for a buyer badge for free at remote registration centers before the fair opens — including Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Guangzhou South Railway Station, the Pazhou Hong Kong ferry terminal, designated hotels in Guangzhou, and the Canton Fair office in Hong Kong.

Once inside, the Canton Fair app adds practical tools: booth-level navigation, AI-powered supplier search, an ASKME assistant, AI meeting notes and badge management — all in one place.

What to See If You're Not a Buyer

Even if your trip is business, the fair is surrounded by a walkable modern city:

• Pazhou and the Pearl River: the complex sits on an island of glass towers; the evening river cruise is a 60-minute reset after a day of meetings.
• Old Guangzhou is 30 minutes away by metro: Shamian Island, Yongqing Fang and the Xiguan houses give a sense of the city beyond the expo halls.
• Cantonese food is the real draw: morning dim sum, roast goose and late-night congee are cheaper and closer than most visitors expect.

Practical Notes

• The fair and the metro are the fastest way around: line 8 connects Pazhou to the city center.
• WeChat Pay and Alipay work at most food stalls and shops; see our payment guide for foreigners if you haven't set them up.
• Guangzhou has 240-hour visa-free transit for many nationalities; check our 240-hour transit guide before you fly.

Turn the Trip Into a China Week

Many buyers tack on a few days after their phase: a weekend in Guangzhou's neighborhoods, or a quick high-speed rail hop to Foshan, Shunde or Hong Kong. Plan the balance of fair days and free days before you land — start with ChinaPie's trip planner and it will lay out a realistic itinerary and budget in minutes.

• Guangzhou Guide for First-Time Visitors
• China Digital Payment Guide for Foreigners
• China Travel 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide