Canton Fair 2026: Plan Before You Go

The Three Phases of Canton Fair 2026

The 140th Canton Fair will take place in Guangzhou in three phases.

• Phase 1 — October 15–19, 2026: Best for electronics, home appliances, machinery, industrial equipment, vehicles and auto parts, lighting, electrical products, renewable energy, hardware and tools.
• Phase 2 — October 23–27, 2026: Best for housewares, kitchenware, furniture, building materials, bathroom products, home decoration, gifts and gardening products.
• Phase 3 — October 31–November 4, 2026: Best for clothing, textiles, shoes, bags, toys, baby products, personal care, medical and health products, food, sports products, office supplies and pet products.

Before Coming to Guangzhou

Don't wait until you arrive to start searching.

First, define exactly what products you want to source. Prepare photos, specifications, target quantity, expected quality and approximate budget.

Then identify the relevant exhibition sections and make a shortlist of suppliers or products you want to visit. The official Canton Fair platform allows buyers to search exhibitors and products and plan their attendance before the fair.

Also complete your buyer pre-registration/badge preparation before your trip whenever possible.

Don't Try to See Everything in One Day

The exhibition covers 1.55 million m², with 54 exhibition sections and more than 30,000 exhibitors expected, so walking around randomly is not an efficient sourcing strategy.

Organize each day around specific product categories. For example:

• Day 1: Explore the market and compare products.
• Day 2: Focus on your strongest potential suppliers.
• Day 3: Discuss specifications, MOQ, pricing and customization.
• Day 4: Revisit shortlisted suppliers and collect final information.
• Day 5: Confirm your shortlist and plan factory visits after the fair.

Keep a Clear Sourcing Objective

You may not need all five days. The important thing is to arrive with a clear sourcing objective rather than trying to visit every booth.

The Fair Is Only the Beginning

Finding an interesting booth does not automatically mean you have found the right supplier.

Before placing an order, you should still compare quotations, confirm specifications, understand MOQ and production time, check whether you are dealing with a manufacturer or trading company when that distinction matters to your project, request samples when appropriate, and verify the supplier before making significant payments.

A factory visit after the Canton Fair can also help you better understand a supplier's actual production capabilities.

Visiting Canton Fair With a Sourcing Plan

BEINCHINA is based in Guangzhou and helps international buyers with product sourcing, supplier search, factory checks, quality control and shipping support.

If you are coming to Guangzhou for the Canton Fair and already know what products you are looking for, you can send us your requirements before your trip.