Business Travel · Guangzhou
Canton Fair 2026 Dates: October 15 to November 4
The exact autumn dates, the right phase for your products, buyer registration, badge collection, transport, and first-visit planning.
· 5 min read
Canton Fair 2026 dates
The 140th Canton Fair opens on October 15, 2026.
The autumn session has three phases. Each phase covers a different group of products.
| Phase | 2026 dates | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | October 15–19 | First autumn phase |
| Phase 2 | October 23–27 | Second autumn phase |
| Phase 3 | October 31–November 4 | Final autumn phase |
There is no exhibition from October 20–22. The halls change over between Phase 1 and Phase 2.
There is no exhibition from October 28–30. The halls change over between Phase 2 and Phase 3.
The 139th Spring Canton Fair ran from April 15 to May 5, 2026. That session has ended; buyers planning their next visit should use the autumn dates above.
What each Canton Fair phase covers
Choose your phase by product category, not by the dates that are easiest to book.
- Come to Phase 1 for electronics, machinery, or vehicles. This is the phase for buyers sourcing electrical products, manufacturing equipment, and automotive products.
- Come to Phase 2 for home goods or building materials. This is the phase for buyers sourcing household products, furnishings, decor, and construction products.
- Come to Phase 3 for apparel, health, food, or leisure products. This is the phase for buyers sourcing clothing, personal health products, food, and recreation goods.
If your buying list crosses categories, check every product in the official exhibitor directory before booking. Similar-sounding products can appear in different phases.
Where the Canton Fair is held and how to get there
The fair is held at the Canton Fair Complex in Pazhou, Haizhu District, Guangzhou.
The nearest metro stations are Pazhou and Xingangdong. Both stations are on Line 8. Pazhou is also served by Line 11.
- From Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport: use the intercity rail connection to Pazhou, or follow the airport signs to Metro Line 3. Transfer to Line 8 at Kecun and exit at Pazhou or Xingangdong.
- From Guangzhou South Railway Station: take Metro Line 2 to Changgang. Transfer to Line 8 and exit at Pazhou or Xingangdong.
- From Hong Kong: take the ferry to Pazhou Ferry Terminal and walk to the complex, or take a high-speed train to Guangzhou South and follow the metro route above.
Check your hall and area before choosing a station exit. The complex is large, and Pazhou and Xingangdong serve different sides.
Use the Guangzhou government transport guide to confirm the current route before travel.
How overseas buyers register and collect a badge
Every overseas buyer needs a buyer badge to enter the fair.
- Open the official Buyer Service System, the platform that replaced the older Buyer E-Service Tool (BEST).
- Create an account, or sign in with your existing buyer account.
- Complete your personal and company information.
- Submit the online pre-registration and buyer badge application.
- Save and print the pre-registration receipt after approval.
- Take the receipt and your documents to an official badge collection counter.
Prepare these items before you register and carry them to the badge desk:
- Your original ID document — a foreign passport, a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, or a Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents.
- Your approved pre-registration receipt or buyer QR code, on paper or on your phone.
- A business card.
Those three are the core list. A company registration certificate and a printed photograph are asked for on some application routes but are not universal badge-desk requirements, so check the notice for your own session before you travel. Pre-registration and first-time badge issue are free; a replacement for a lost or forgotten badge carries a service fee, quoted at RMB 200 per badge in recent sessions.
Use only official registration channels. Keep your badge after the fair because an existing buyer badge may be used again at later sessions.
How to get a Canton Fair invitation letter
Apply through the official Buyer E-Service Tool. The invitation letter is free, and approval normally takes 3 to 5 working days.
China Unboxed does not issue invitation letters or visas. We can walk you through the free official route.
Read the full Canton Fair invitation letter and visa guide for the application sequence, visa routes, and document checks.
Where to stay and how to use three days
Stay in Pazhou, Wanshengwei, or close to a Line 8 station if the fair is the main purpose of your trip. A direct metro route is more useful than a central address when the halls open and close.
Hotel prices rise during the fair. Book as soon as your phase and travel dates are fixed. For the autumn session, do not wait until October to reserve a room.
- Day 1: map the market. Visit the relevant halls, confirm which suppliers match your specifications, and record names, booth locations, and contact details.
- Day 2: compare the shortlist. Discuss minimum orders, specifications, samples, production timing, and export experience. Keep every answer in the same comparison format.
- Day 3: revisit the strongest options. Resolve conflicting answers, inspect samples again, and agree on the next verification step after the fair.
Leave space in the schedule for repeat conversations. A first meeting gives you a lead; it does not replace supplier verification.
Common first-time buyer mistakes
Language
English ability varies by booth. Write product specifications in plain language and keep photos, drawings, and model references ready.
Payments
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before arrival. Carry a backup bank card and some cash in case an app or card check fails.
Business cards
Bring printed cards with your full name, company, role, email, and messaging contact. Photograph each supplier card and match it to your notes before leaving the booth.
Samples
Check airline baggage rules and your home country’s customs rules before accepting samples. Keep invoices, product descriptions, and material details together.
Interpreters
Use an interpreter who understands your product vocabulary. Confirm in advance that the interpreter works for you and does not take a supplier commission.
On the ground in China
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A personal host meets you at arrivals, sets up payments and transport, and walks you through markets, factories or hospitals — transparent per-day pricing, itemized in writing before any payment.
About this guide
Written and maintained by the China Unboxed team from Shenzhen. We keep guides current and general on purpose — always verify prices and policies against official sources before booking.
Related in this series
- which phase covers your product category
- the buyer registration walkthrough on the official system
- whether your passport needs a Chinese visa and an invitation letter at all
- what to do when the invitation application is not open yet
- the documents the badge desk asks for and where to collect
- what a buyer trip to the fair actually costs
- getting from Baiyun Airport to Pazhou and where to stay
- building a booth shortlist before you fly
- hiring an interpreter for booth negotiations
- our on-the-ground support during the fair
- the full service list with prices, from a paper check to a factory visit
US$9.90 starts the work and comes off anything you book with us in the next 30 days; the written plan costs nothing extra.