The Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair) takes place in Guangzhou every spring and autumn. In 2026, the 139th spring session runs from April 15 to May 5, while the 140th autumn session runs from October 15 to November 4 at the Canton Fair Complex in Pazhou.
Each session has three phases covering different industries. How to make your visit useful?
Overseas buyers need to find the right exhibitors, compare quotations and arrange samples before placing orders. Production schedules and shipping requirements also affect when the purchased goods will reach their destination.
This guide explains how this annual event works for global importers in 2026.
Canton Fair 2026 Phases and Dates
The Canton Fair divides its exhibition into three phases, each lasting five days. Phase 1 focuses on industrial products and technology, Phase 2 covers household goods and building products, and Phase 3 features apparel, textiles and other consumer products.
The table below summarizes the official 2026 dates and main product categories.
| Phase | Spring 2026: 139th Session | Autumn 2026: 140th Session | Main Product Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | April 15–19 | October 15–19 | Electronics, appliances, machinery, vehicles, lighting, hardware, tools, new energy resources, and new materials and chemical products |
| Phase 2 | April 23–27 | October 23–27 | Furniture, building materials, bathroom equipment, household goods, kitchenware, ceramics, gifts and decorations |
| Phase 3 | May 1–5 | October 31–November 4 | Clothing, home textiles, shoes, bags, toys, baby products, personal care, medical products and food |
Some product categories are easy to confuse. For example, construction machinery belongs to Phase 1, while building and decorative materials belong to Phase 2. A hotel buyer sourcing lighting, furniture and bed linen would need to visit all three phases.
The autumn changeover periods are October 20–22 and October 28–30 (spring changeover periods usually are April 20–22 and April 28–30). The exhibition closes during these intervals for booth dismantling and setup. Buyers attending consecutive phases can arrange separate supplier meetings or factory visits during the breaks.
Canton Fair Registration, Entry and Travel Planning
1. Register for Your Buyer Badge
Overseas buyers use an Overseas Buyer Badge to enter the Canton Fair. First-time visitors can pre-register through the official Buyer Service System and obtain a registration receipt.
For badge collection, prepare the receipt, original valid identification document and business card required by the organizer. New Overseas Buyer Badge applications, replacements and renewals are free.
Buyers with a valid Overseas Buyer Badge from a previous session can continue using it without reactivation. However, some older badges issued under work-visa arrangements are no longer valid, so affected visitors need to follow the current badge policy.
2. Check Invitation Letter and Visa Requirements
A Canton Fair invitation letter may support a Chinese visa application, while the buyer badge provides exhibition access. Follow the Chinese embassy or consulate's entry requirements for your passport and travel itinerary, including any planned factory visits outside Guangzhou.
Factor factory visits and onward travel into this check. Consider whether to book refundable flights and accommodation when your invitation or visa outcome is still pending, particularly if your off-Guangzhou appointments are not yet confirmed.
3. Accommodation and Travel Planning
Choose accommodation based on travel time to the exhibition halls you plan to visit. Xingangdong and Pazhou Metro Stations serve different areas of the Canton Fair Complex. Use the official hall map to find the most convenient station and exit.
If your hotel offers a shuttle, review its departure and return schedules against your supplier meetings.
Factory visits outside Guangzhou require additional travel time and expense. Buyers planning visits to sourcing hubs in Guangdong can arrange appointments around the exhibition dates and changeover periods.
Include flights, accommodation, local transport, meals, interpretation and sample purchases in your travel budget. Plan the length of your stay around your shortlisted suppliers and the time needed for follow-up discussions.
How to Compare Canton Fair Suppliers
Compare supplier quotations for the same product specifications, quantities and delivery terms. Differences in packaging, accessories or customization charges can change the final purchase cost.
Start with the minimum order quantity (MOQ). For example, a supplier quoting an MOQ of 500 units across three colors might mean 500 units in total or 500 units per color. The second arrangement requires an order of 1,500 units, so clarify the quantity for each variation before comparing offers.
The following details belong in a written supplier quotation.
| Comparison Point | What the Written Quotation Should Specify |
|---|---|
| Product | Model, dimensions, materials, performance and included components. For liquids, specify concentration and grade; for equipment, specify voltage and frequency so suppliers price the version your intended market can use. |
| Quantity | Total units, quantity per model or color, and the MOQ for each variation; for chemicals, the quoted unit and net weight per package |
| Packaging | Retail box, carton contents, protective materials and labeling |
| Separate charges | Samples, tooling, molds, artwork and customization |
| Delivery terms | Currency, Incoterm and named place or port |
| Payment | Deposit, balance-payment trigger and quotation validity; whether inspection approval is an agreed condition for the balance payment |
| Product evidence | Report or certificate reference, covered model, issuer and pending items |
Packaging
Take an Example: Supplier A quotes USD 4.80 per charger, including a cable and retail box. Supplier B quotes USD 4.30, plus USD 0.35 for the cable and USD 0.25 for the box.
Supplier B's total reaches USD 4.90 per charger. At 1,000 units, Supplier A costs USD 100 less despite its higher initial price.
Incoterms
An Incoterm defines how the buyer and seller divide delivery responsibilities, costs and risks. Compare quotations using the same rule, named place or port, and applicable version, such as Incoterms 2020.
For example, if one supplier includes delivery to your forwarder's warehouse while another quotes factory pickup, add the local collection cost to the second offer. Otherwise, the two prices do not cover the same services.
Product Documents
Match each test report or certificate to the quoted product model, including the components and configurations it covers. For missing documents, ask the supplier when they will be available.
For chemicals, request a technical data sheet (TDS) covering the purchasing specification and a safety data sheet (SDS) covering hazard information. These documents serve different purposes and do not replace any destination-specific approvals.
A factory visit provides another opportunity to evaluate a shortlisted supplier. Identify the facility responsible for your proposed order and arrange to see the relevant production process. For a customized finish, inspecting that process is more useful than visiting an unrelated showroom.
Canton Fair Samples: Types, Costs and Transport
A stock sample allows buyers to examine an existing product, while a customized sample reflects requested changes to its design, materials or dimensions. At the fair, ask whether the displayed sample is available for purchase or will be dispatched later.
For customized samples, agree on the specifications and completion date before production. The supplier may need additional time for packing and shipping after finishing the sample.
Specify the features you want to test. For a charger, list the plug type, rated output and cable. For liquid products, provide the required grade and testing quantity. Approval of a product sample does not automatically cover custom packaging if the supplier used standard packaging for testing.
Sample costs generally fall into three groups:
Product and customization: Sample unit price, requested changes, tooling, molds and any additional charges for revisions.
Packing and transport: Packaging, collection and shipping to the receiving address, including whether destination duties or taxes are covered.
Bulk-order credit: The amount the supplier agrees to credit against a later order, along with the required purchase quantity or value and any deadline.
For example, two samples at USD 25 each, plus USD 70 for packing and transport, bring the initial cost to USD 120. If the supplier credits only the USD 50 sample charge toward a qualifying bulk order, the USD 70 transport expense remains. These are example costs.
Shipping Battery and Chemical Samples
For battery-powered product samples, provide the battery type, capacity and whether the battery is installed in the equipment, packed separately or shipped alone. The battery specifications and transport configuration affect the carrier's acceptance requirements.
For chemical samples, send the forwarder the SDS, product quantity and proposed packaging. The forwarder can then assess the transport classification, documentation and available shipping services.
Give each dispatched sample a reference number that matches its specifications and test results. This helps distinguish the approved sample from later revisions.
Supplier Follow-Up After the Canton Fair
Leave the fair with enough information to identify each offer and continue the purchasing decision.
Structure your follow-up workflow into three clear stages:
1 Record on-site at the fair
After each meeting, keep the supplier's company name, contact details, product model, dated quotation and booth photographs together.
Gerudo Logistics Tips: Match photographs to their model numbers, particularly when several exhibitors offer similar products.
2 Follow up with shortlisted suppliers
Request revised quotations, custom sample completion dates and any outstanding product documents. Set a response deadline based on your purchasing schedule.
For example: “Please send a revised quotation for Model A with the retail box discussed at your booth. Include the updated price and sample completion date by Friday so we can select our supplier.”
3 Update order details during production
Once the supplier confirms the final packaging, update the carton count, packed dimensions, gross weight and cargo-ready date. Keep earlier estimates clearly marked and provide the final figures to your forwarder before confirming pickup arrangements.
Keep the latest quotation, approved sample specifications and packing information together so your purchasing and logistics teams work from the same documents.
Production Lead Times and Cargo-Ready Dates
What the Lead Time Covers
A supplier's quoted production period needs a clear starting date. Ask whether the factory starts counting after receiving the deposit, approving the sample or completing both steps.
The finishing point also matters. Production completion, inspection readiness and packed-goods availability are different milestones. The quotation should specify whether the factory counts calendar days or working days.
For example, a supplier quotes 30 calendar days starting the day after receiving both the deposit and sample approval. The deposit arrives on November 2, but the buyer approves the sample on November 6. Production finishes on December 6 rather than December 2. If packing takes another three calendar days, the goods will be ready on December 9.
Inspection and Collection Date
An inspection may delay collection if the factory needs to correct defects. The forwarder needs the date when the supplier will release the packed goods for pickup, rather than simply the production completion date.
For delivery planning, distinguish arrival at the destination port from delivery to the final receiving address. Customs clearance, cargo release and inland transport also affect the latter.
If one supplier has goods ready on December 9 and another on December 18, consolidation holds the earlier shipment for at least nine days. Storage charges and the delivery deadline will affect whether separate shipments are preferable.
Factory and Pickup Locations for Canton Fair Orders
Pickup Details for Freight Quotes
A Guangzhou exhibitor may manufacture goods in another city or release them from a separate warehouse. Before requesting a freight quote, obtain the actual collection address, warehouse contact and cargo-ready date.
The forwarder also needs the expected carton or pallet count, gross weight, packed dimensions and loading arrangements. Loose cartons and loaded pallets may require different vehicles or handling services.
For an initial freight estimate, the supplier can provide approximate cargo figures. Update these details before finalizing the collection arrangements.
Consolidating Multiple Orders
Suppose one supplier dispatches goods from Foshan and another from Ningbo. Bringing both orders to Guangzhou adds inland transport for the Ningbo shipment.
Compare the total costs of shipping separately and consolidating the orders, including collection, warehouse handling, storage where required, and international freight. Consolidation is not automatically cheaper, particularly when suppliers are far apart.
Cargo compatibility also matters. Products requiring different temperatures or subject to transport restrictions may need separate handling or shipping services.
Shipping Canton Fair Purchases with Gerudo Logistics
Gerudo Logistics coordinates freight from Chinese suppliers for overseas importers, including general cargo, dangerous goods, chemicals and temperature-controlled products. For purchases made through Canton Fair contacts, the transport assessment connects factory pickup locations with cargo requirements and the receiving destination.
We help our client review the best shipping options such as less-than-container-load (LCL) shipping, or full-container-load (FCL) shipping.
To request a quote, send us the product details, pickup addresses, estimated weights and dimensions, and receiving destination. For dangerous goods and chemicals, include the available safety documents and packaging information so we can assess transport requirements and carrier acceptance conditions.
Canton Fair 2026 FAQs
Can small businesses attend the Canton Fair 2026?
Yes. Small overseas businesses can register as buyers. Each supplier sets its own minimum order quantities, so discuss your intended purchase volume before arranging meetings.
Are all Canton Fair exhibitors manufacturers?
Exhibitors include manufacturers and trading businesses. Ask which company will produce the goods and which legal entity will sign the purchase agreement, especially when the booth represents several businesses.
Do I need an interpreter at the Canton Fair?
An interpreter is useful when you and the supplier cannot discuss technical specifications or commercial terms clearly in a shared language. For specialized products, provide the interpreter with your terminology and product brief in advance, and confirm availability separately for factory visits that fall outside the booked exhibition days.
Can I buy the display sample at a Canton Fair booth?
The exhibitor decides whether a displayed sample is for sale. Ask when it can be released, and check its condition, included accessories and collection arrangements; a displayed unit may still be needed for the exhibition.
Can I contact Canton Fair exhibitors after the fair ends?
Yes, the official Canton Fair website and app support exhibitor searches and supplier contact functions. Use the company and model references collected at the fair to continue the same purchasing discussion.
