Canton Fair First-Time Guide: Dates, Badge, Visa & Tips for the 140th Session (2026)

The Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair) in Guangzhou is the world's largest trade exhibition — over 1.5 million square meters of halls, tens of thousands of exhibitors, and three phases covering completely different product categories. This guide walks you through everything a first-timer needs: when to go, how to register, the visa question, where to stay, and how to work the halls without burning out.

A note on dates: the 140th session is scheduled for October 15 – November 4, 2026. Always confirm the latest dates on the official Canton Fair website (cantonfair.org.cn) before booking flights.

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Why go to the Canton Fair

If you source products from China at any real volume, the fair compresses months of supplier hunting into a few days. You can compare dozens of factories side by side, negotiate face to face, and inspect samples on the spot. For many buyers, one good supplier found at the fair pays for the entire trip.

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Before you go: pick the right phase

This is the single most important decision — and the most common first-timer mistake. The fair runs in three five-day phases with three-day changeover gaps (October 20–22 and October 28–30), and the exhibitors change out almost entirely between phases. Most buyers attend only one.

• Phase 1 — October 15–19, 2026: Electronics and home appliances, machinery, hardware and tools, lighting and electrical products, vehicles, new energy and smart mobility, industrial automation.

Coming for Phase 2? Phase 1 ends October 19, and the halls are closed October 20–22 for changeover. Phase 2 runs October 23–27, covering building materials & furniture, housewares, gifts & decorations (including a fashion jewellery zone), and ceramics. If you're arriving during the gap, use October 20–22 for factory visits or a side trip — and note that the Yiwu Fair (October 21–24) overlaps the first two days of Phase 2.

• Phase 2 — October 23–27, 2026: Housewares and kitchenware, gifts and decorations, furniture, building materials, ceramics, sanitary products.

• Phase 3 — October 31–November 4, 2026: Textiles and garments, shoes and bags, toys and baby products, home textiles, health and medical products, food.

Match your product category to the phase before you book anything. If you sell consumer electronics, Phase 1 is your window; if you buy home goods, it's Phase 2. Check the official exhibitor search to confirm where your category sits — a few categories straddle phases.

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Before you go: register for your buyer badge

You cannot enter the halls without a buyer badge, and every overseas buyer must pre-register online. The good news: pre-registration is free and open year-round on the official Buyer Service System (buyer.cantonfair.org.cn) — this replaced the old Buyer E-Service Tool, and existing accounts were transferred over.

The process for first-timers:

1. Create a buyer account with your real company details — exhibitors scan your badge and see who you are.

2. Select the session and the phase(s) you plan to attend.

3. Apply for the Overseas Buyer Badge: fill in your personal and company information, and upload a clear scan of your passport's information page plus a recent digital photo.

4. While you're there, request the official invitation letter in the same step — you'll need it for a visa if your passport requires one.

5. Save the QR code receipt the system generates.

Badge collection is also free. Pick up your badge at the registration offices inside the Canton Fair Complex, or save time at an alternative office: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Guangzhou South Railway Station, Pazhou Ferry Terminal, designated hotels, or the fair's Hong Kong office. Bring your passport and the QR receipt. Skip pre-registration and you'll face long on-site queues (and possible processing fees), so don't skip it.

Returning buyers: if you hold a valid badge from a previous session, you can usually enter after verification without a new application.

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Before you go: sort out your visa

A buyer badge is not a visa — the two are completely separate. Your entry route depends on your passport:

• Visa-free (up to 30 days): ordinary passport holders from around 50 countries — including the UK, Canada, most EU countries, Australia, Japan and South Korea — can enter China for business without a visa until December 31, 2026.

• M business visa: if your country isn't on the list (US citizens, for example), apply for an M visa at your local Chinese embassy or consulate. The Canton Fair invitation letter supports your application, but the consulate makes the final decision — the letter is not a guarantee of entry. Apply 6–8 weeks before you travel.

• 240-hour visa-free transit: flying on to a third country or region (Hong Kong counts — it's about an hour from Guangzhou by high-speed rail) may qualify you for 240-hour transit with a confirmed onward ticket.

• Port visa: for genuinely urgent business trips, temporary port visas are available on arrival at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and Pazhou Port.

If your trip also includes Hong Kong or Shenzhen, read our guide on combining Hong Kong and Shenzhen in one trip.

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Getting there and getting around

The fair is held at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Pazhou, Haizhu District, Guangzhou (382 Yuejiang Middle Road). The complex is enormous — plan on walking several kilometers a day, and note the halls are open 9:30–18:00.

• Metro: take Guangzhou Metro Line 8 to Pazhou or Xingangdong station — both serve the complex. From Baiyun Airport, take Line 3 and change to Line 8 (about an hour).

• Taxi / DiDi: 45–60 minutes from the airport depending on traffic; DiDi has an English interface.

• Inside the complex: internal shuttles connect the halls, and many hotels near Pazhou run free shuttle buses during the fair.

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Where to stay

Book as early as you can — hotel rates around Guangzhou spike during the fair, and the closest hotels sell out first.

• Pazhou / Haizhu: closest to the halls, some within walking distance. Best for maximizing time on the floor.

• Tianhe / Zhujiang New Town: Guangzhou's modern business district, with more restaurants and hotel choice, a short metro ride away via Line 8 and Line 3.

• Near Guangzhou South Railway Station: convenient if you're arriving by high-speed rail, for example from Hong Kong or Shenzhen.

For a sense of what the whole trip will cost, see our China trip cost breakdown for 2026.

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At the fair: how to work it like a first-timer who isn't

• Shortlist before you fly. Use the official Canton Fair app to search exhibitors by product keyword, save 30–50 must-visit booths, and message a few to book meeting slots. Walking in cold wastes the first day.

• Bring business cards — bilingual English/Chinese if you can manage it. You'll hand out dozens.

• Wear comfortable shoes and carry a power bank — your phone drains fast across a full day in the halls.

• Talk specs, MOQs and lead times, not just prices. Ask every serious supplier: minimum order quantity, sample policy and cost, production lead time, and whether they do OEM/ODM. Photograph booth name cards and product labels.

• Set up payments before you fly. Link a foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay with TenPayGo before departure, and keep a little cash (¥300–500 in small notes) for small vendors.

• Use the changeover days. The gaps between phases (Oct 20–22, Oct 28–30) are ideal for factory visits: Foshan for furniture and ceramics, Dongguan or Shenzhen for electronics. A booth shows you samples; a factory shows you the business.

• Get an eSIM before departure — fair Wi-Fi is patchy — and arrange any VPN you need before you fly.

For the full checklist of what to bring, see our China packing list.

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After the fair

The fair is about 20% of the work; follow-up is the other 80%. Within two weeks of getting home: shortlist your top 10 suppliers, send follow-up emails referencing your discussions, request and approve samples, then negotiate contracts and place trial orders.

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FAQ

Do I need to pre-register for the Canton Fair? Yes. Every overseas buyer must complete online pre-registration to get a buyer badge, which is what gets you into the halls. It's free and open year-round on the official Buyer Service System (buyer.cantonfair.org.cn). On-site registration exists, but expect long queues and possible fees.

What visa do I need for the Canton Fair, and how does the invitation letter work? It depends on your passport. Around 50 countries get 30-day visa-free entry for business until December 31, 2026; everyone else typically needs an M business visa. Request the official invitation letter through the Buyer Service System while applying for your badge — it supports your visa application, but the consulate decides. US citizens can also consider 240-hour visa-free transit with an onward ticket.

Where should I stay for the Canton Fair? Stay in Pazhou or Haizhu District for the shortest commute, or in Tianhe / Zhujiang New Town for more dining and hotel choice — both connect to the complex via Metro Line 8. Book early: rates surge during the fair and the closest hotels sell out first.

Which phase of the Canton Fair should I attend? Choose by product category: Phase 1 (Oct 15–19, 2026) for electronics, machinery, tools, vehicles and new energy; Phase 2 (Oct 23–27) for furniture, building materials, housewares and gifts; Phase 3 (Oct 31–Nov 4) for textiles, apparel, personal care, toys and food. Most buyers attend only one phase — confirm your category before booking flights.

Can I attend more than one Canton Fair phase on the same badge? Register once — buyer guides consistently report one badge is valid across all three phases of the session. Expect check-in / validation as each new phase opens. Keep your physical badge safe (one guide reports a RMB 200 replacement fee). A badge is not a visa.