TL;DR: The 140th Canton Fair runs October 15 - November 4, 2026 in Guangzhou, spanning 1.55 million m² across 51 exhibition halls and 25,000+ exhibitors. If you import from China, go. But go with a plan — the fair is too big to wander. Three phases, each covering different product categories. Here’s what to do before, during, and after.
The Canton Fair is the largest trade show in the world. In 2025, over 200,000 buyers attended from more than 200 countries. Onsite transactions exceeded $20 billion. These numbers make it intimidating — but they also make it the single best place to find Chinese suppliers in one trip.
Phase Breakdown: Go to the Right Phase
| Phase | Dates | Key Categories |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Oct 15-19 | Electronics, home appliances, machinery, tools, hardware, vehicles, building materials |
| Phase 2 | Oct 23-27 | Consumer goods, home decorations, gifts, toys, clocks, ceramics |
| Phase 3 | Oct 31 - Nov 4 | Textiles, garments, shoes, bags, medical devices, food, office supplies |
Every 5-day phase is followed by a 3-day break for booth turnover. Do NOT book a flight on October 20 expecting to see both Phase 1 and Phase 2 — you’ll find empty halls.
Before You Go: The 4-Week Checklist
4-6 weeks out (September):
- Register on cantonfair.org.cn — get your buyer badge
- Request the official invitation letter for your visa
- Download the Canton Fair app — the booth directory is searchable offline
- Make a shortlist of 20-30 suppliers by booth number, organized by hall
- Email your top 10 suppliers: “I’ll be at the Fair Phase X. Can we schedule 30 minutes at your booth?”
- Book hotel — anywhere on Metro Line 8 in Pazhou is ideal. Book early — rooms fill by mid-September.
1-2 weeks out (early October): 7. Pack: comfortable shoes (you’ll walk 6-8 km/day), portable charger, business cards, notebook 8. Bring product samples or detailed spec sheets — suppliers take buyers with specific requirements more seriously 9. Download offline maps and a translation app (Baidu Translate or Pleco) 10. Arrange factory visits for the weeks before or after your Fair dates — many suppliers are within 2-3 hours of Guangzhou (Foshan, Dongguan, Shenzhen)
During the Fair: How to Spend Your Time
- Morning: Arrive at opening (9:30 AM). Visit your pre-booked suppliers first — they’re freshest and least crowded.
- Midday: Walk your target halls systematically. Take photos of booths, products, and business cards together — you’ll forget which card goes with which product.
- Afternoon: Use the Fair’s business matching area or take meetings in the international buyer lounge.
- Evening: Type up notes and star your top 3-5 suppliers from the day. Follow up with a WhatsApp or email that night while you’re still fresh in their memory.
After the Fair: The Real Work
The Fair itself doesn’t get you products — it gets you contacts. The real work starts after:
- Send personalized follow-ups within 48 hours (reference something specific from your conversation)
- Request formal quotations and samples from your top 3-5
- Schedule factory visits — a booth is marketing; the factory is reality
- Start your QC plan now — not after the order is placed
For Importers Who Can’t Attend
Hire a local sourcing agent who can walk the Fair on your behalf. Give them a specific brief — product type, target price, certification requirements. A good agent can visit 30+ booths in a day and send you photos, pricing, and supplier assessments. This costs a fraction of a flight and hotel.
The Fair is overwhelming. But the importers who prepare win. The ones who wander leave with a bag of brochures and no real suppliers.
Written by Xinya Zhang. I’ve walked the Canton Fair for years — not as a buyer, but as someone who knows which suppliers are worth visiting and which ones just have a nice booth. Need someone on the ground? Tell me what you’re sourcing →
Sources:
- Canton Fair Official Website — 140th Session Information (cantonfair.org.cn)
- China Foreign Trade Centre — 2025 Buyer Statistics
- Guangdong Provincial Government — 144-hour visa-free transit policy