Canton Fair 2026 opens with 32,000 exhibitors, running until 4 November

THURSDAY, 15 OCTOBER 2026

The 140th Canton Fair opened on 15 October in Guangzhou with about 32,000 exhibitors in three phases: which one to choose for your products and what to check before ordering.

Canton Fair 2026: the 140th edition opened on 15 October in Guangzhou and runs until 4 November, in three phases, with about 32,000 exhibiting companies across 1.55 million square metres. For buyers sourcing from China it is the widest chance of the year to see suppliers and samples in one place, but it has to be planned phase by phase.

Canton Fair 2026: dates and sectors of the three phases

The official name is the China Import and Export Fair, organised by the China Foreign Trade Centre for China's Ministry of Commerce and Guangdong province. This year it turns 70. The three exhibition phases are separated by two breaks, from 20 to 22 October and from 28 to 30 October, and each hosts different sectors.

Phase 1, from 15 to 19 October, is devoted to advanced manufacturing: electronics and household appliances, industrial automation, machinery, hardware and tools, lighting and electrical equipment, new energy vehicles, plus zones for service robots, drones and displays. Phase 2, from 23 to 27 October, covers the home: building materials and furniture, housewares, gifts and decorations, each above 130,000 square metres, plus a fashion jewellery zone. Phase 3, from 31 October to 4 November, covers health and recreation, toys and baby products, and fashion, with a zone for intelligent healthcare.

The figures for this edition

The data come from the organisers, released at the 18 September press conference, in the 22 September press release and at the opening:

• Exhibitors at the 140th edition: about 32,000 companies, more than 11,000 of them classed as specialised firms or industry leaders.
• Phase 1, 15-19 October: 520,000 square metres, more than 25,000 booths and over 12,000 exhibitors.
• New products and green products: 23.2% and 26% of exhibits, both record highs according to the organisers.
• Pre-registered overseas buyers: over 200,000 as of 18 September, more than 220,000 from 197 countries and regions as of 22 September.
• Benchmark: the 139th edition, closed on 5 May 2026, recorded 314,000 overseas buyers from 220 countries and regions, a record.

The organisers also state that 64% of exhibitors use industrial internet and artificial intelligence technologies and that more than 700 new product launch events are planned.

What these figures measure and what they do not

The shares of new and green products are the organisers' classifications, not certifications: an item labelled green at the fair is not, for that reason, compliant with European rules on substances, packaging or energy efficiency. Likewise, the number of pre-registered buyers measures declared interest, not actual attendance or signed orders.

The most useful figure for buyers is another one: the share of exhibitors classed as specialised companies, about a third of the total. It suggests that many direct manufacturers sit alongside trading companies, but verification remains case by case.

What it means for importers

Importers of consumer goods and promotional items will find their sectors mainly in Phase 2, for housewares and gifts, and in Phase 3, for toys, textiles and accessories. Buyers of electrical or electronic components need to be in Guangzhou by 19 October. For those who have not booked yet, it is worth focusing on a single phase and using the breaks between phases to visit the plants of the most promising suppliers, many of which are based in Guangdong.

At the fair it pays to collect three things: a price list with minimum quantities and Incoterms, samples to be tested in Europe, and copies of the stated certifications, to be checked before ordering. For toys and electrical products in particular, CE marking and test reports should be checked on the individual item, not on the catalogue. Buyers ordering right after the fair should factor in production and shipping times: for goods meant for year-end sales, it is worth asking the supplier for a written delivery date before confirming.

Registration for overseas buyers is open all year on the official website, and badges are issued free of charge at the airport, at Guangzhou South railway station or at partner hotels. The fair's website and app stay active after 4 November, with the same sections as the physical fair: useful for a first remote shortlist.

Before and after the fair

With La Merce, buyers going to the Canton Fair between 15 October and 4 November arrive with a supplier list already filtered for the right phase and, once back, have samples, certifications and factories checked before signing the first order.

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