Canton Fair 2026 and 2027: Dates, Phases, Hall Map, and Visa Guide

The 140th session runs from October 15 to November 4, 2026, in three phases: Phase 1 Oct 15–19, Phase 2 Oct 23–27 and Phase 3 Oct 31–Nov 4. The halls are rebuilt on Oct 20–22 and Oct 28–30, when there is nothing to see.

The 141st session, the spring fair of 2027, runs from April 15 to May 5, 2027: Phase 1 Apr 15–19, Phase 2 Apr 23–27 and Phase 3 May 1–5, with the halls rebuilt on April 20–22 and April 28–30. Phase 3 overlaps China’s May Day holiday, when trains and hotels are at their busiest. These are the dates published for the exhibitor booth sales; the Ministry of Commerce’s announcement was not out yet when we checked.

As an overseas buyer, pre-register on the official Canton Fair website or in its app – registration is open all year, so you can do it now for the 141st session. Then collect the free buyer badge with your passport at a badge centre in Guangzhou or Hong Kong. A valid badge from an earlier session still works, and pre-registered buyers get the invitation letter for an M visa in the same place.

The one that shows your products. Phase 1 is machinery, electronics, appliances, vehicles, lighting, hardware and tools; Phase 2 is tableware, kitchen and household goods, gifts, decor, furniture, building materials and garden; Phase 3 is clothing, shoes, bags, textiles, toys, baby products, health, personal care, food and office supplies. Search your product in the hall map on this page.

Yes. According to China's Ministry of Commerce, overseas buyers get the buyer badge free of charge. First-time buyers pre-register on the official website (open all year) and collect the badge with their passport at a badge centre: Baiyun Airport, Guangzhou South station, the Pazhou ferry terminal, designated hotels or the fair's Hong Kong office. A valid badge from an earlier session still works.

Both are on Metro Line 8. Following the organizer’s metro guide: Xingang East (Xingangdong), Exit A, for Areas A and D; Pazhou, Exits A, B, E or F for Area B and Exit C for Area C. Pazhou is also on Line 11. Guangzhou runs a special metro timetable during the fair, and foreign contactless bank cards work at the gates.

Buyer guides give 09:30–18:00 daily. We did not find the hours in the official announcement, so check the Canton Fair website or app before you go.

Many nationalities can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days, which covers business trips such as a trade fair; for Germans currently until December 31, 2026. Others can use visa-free transit of up to 10 days when flying on to a third country. Check your nationality on our Visa Check page. If you do need a visa, most buyers apply for an M (business) visa: passport valid for six more months with two blank pages, a photo, the online application form with its confirmation page, and the Canton Fair’s invitation letter, which pre-registered overseas buyers get on the website or in the app.

Yes: Canton Fair (CIEF), free, in a buyer and a supplier version for iOS and Android. According to the organizer it handles pre-registration and the invitation letter, supplier and product search, itinerary planning, booth navigation inside the halls and messaging with exhibitors.

The first session opened on April 25, 1957 in Guangzhou, with 1,223 buyers from 19 countries and regions. It has been held every spring and autumn since, so autumn 2026 is the 140th session. Until 2007 it was called the Chinese Export Commodities Fair; at the 101st session it became the China Import and Export Fair.

The 139th session (April 15 to May 5, 2026) drew 314,000 overseas buyers from 220 countries and regions, 1.1% more than the session before. More than 32,000 companies exhibited on 75,700 booths, and on-site intended export deals came to US$25.7 billion.

No. It is a trade fair for registered buyers and exhibitors. Foreign visitors need a buyer badge, which requires pre-registration; Chinese companies are admitted by invitation only.