The China Import and Export Fair, universally known as the Canton Fair, is the largest trade exhibition on the planet. For Indian importers and business owners, attending this mega-event in Guangzhou is a game-changer. However, because the fair is so massive, it is split into three distinct phases.
If you book a Canton Fair Tour Package for the wrong dates, you will completely miss the suppliers relevant to your industry! In this guide, we break down the exact 2026 dates and help you understand how the phases work.
The Spring and Autumn Sessions
The Canton Fair is held twice a year:
- Spring Session (139th Fair): Mid-April to early May 2026.
- Autumn Session (140th Fair): Mid-October to early November 2026.
Both sessions follow the exact same three-phase structure and feature identical product category groupings.
Breakdown of the Phases
- Phase 1 (April 15-19 & Oct 15-19): Focuses heavily on heavy industry. You will find electronics, household electrical appliances, lighting equipment, vehicles, hardware, tools, and heavy machinery.
- Phase 2 (April 23-27 & Oct 23-27): The consumer goods phase. This covers everyday consumer items, ceramics, home decorations, furniture, gifts, and promotional items.
- Phase 3 (May 1-5 & Oct 31-Nov 4): The textiles and medical phase. Features garments, textiles, footwear, office supplies, recreational products, and medical devices.
Make sure you know exactly which phase your products fall under before applying for your Canton Fair visa.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the exact dates for Canton Fair 2026?
The Canton Fair operates on a highly consistent, fixed schedule every single year, regardless of the days of the week. For 2026, the Spring Session (139th Fair) will run as follows: Phase 1 from April 15 to 19, Phase 2 from April 23 to 27, and Phase 3 from May 1 to May 5.
The Autumn Session (140th Fair) follows the exact same pattern in the latter half of the year. Phase 1 takes place from October 15 to 19, Phase 2 from October 23 to 27, and Phase 3 runs from October 31 to November 4. There is always a 3-day changeover period between each phase.
2. Why is the Canton Fair split into three phases?
The Canton Fair is physically too massive to host all exhibitors simultaneously. Even though the Canton Fair Complex in Pazhou, Guangzhou, is the largest exhibition center in the world (with over 1.5 million square meters of exhibition space), it cannot fit the 25,000+ exhibitors and millions of products at once.
To manage this immense scale, the organizers split the fair into three distinct phases, categorizing products by industry. This allows buyers to focus entirely on their specific niche for five days, while the 3-day intervals allow the organizers to completely dismantle the previous exhibits and set up the next industry's booths.
3. Which phase should electronics buyers attend?
Buyers looking for electronics must attend Phase 1 of the Canton Fair. This phase is dedicated to heavy industry and technology. You will find thousands of suppliers showcasing consumer electronics, electronic and electrical products, computer and communication products, and household electrical appliances.
In addition to electronics, Phase 1 also features lighting equipment, bicycles, motorcycles, vehicle spare parts, chemical products, hardware, tools, and heavy building machinery. If your business imports tech or hardware into India, Phase 1 is the only phase you need to attend.
4. When should furniture and home decor importers go?
Importers specializing in furniture, home decor, and daily consumer goods must book their travel for Phase 2. This phase is widely known as the 'Consumer Goods and Gifts' phase. It features an overwhelming variety of kitchenware, ceramics, tableware, and general household items.
You will also find extensive pavilions dedicated to home decorations, glass art, furniture for both indoor and outdoor use, weaving and rattan iron arts, gardening products, and corporate gifts. This is the busiest phase for retail buyers and Amazon FBA sellers.
5. What is showcased during Phase 3?
Phase 3 is primarily focused on textiles, garments, footwear, and health products. If you are an Indian importer in the fashion or medical industry, this is your phase. You will find men's and women's clothing, kids' wear, underwear, sportswear, and massive raw textile and fabric pavilions.
Beyond fashion, Phase 3 also hosts suppliers for shoes, office supplies, cases and bags, sports and travel recreation products, medicines, health products, and advanced medical devices. The food and native produce pavilions are also typically exhibited during this final phase.
6. Can I attend multiple phases of the Canton Fair?
Yes, absolutely. Many large-scale importers and trading companies deal in diverse product categories (e.g., both electronics and home decor) and need to attend multiple phases. Your Canton Fair Buyer Badge is valid for the entire duration of the fair, across all three phases.
You do not need to register or pay for a new badge for each phase. However, you will need to ensure your China visa permits a long enough stay (usually a 30-day stay is sufficient to cover two or all three phases, including the interval days).
7. What happens during the interval days?
The 3-day intervals (April 20-22 and April 28-30 for the Spring session) are changeover periods. During these days, the Canton Fair Complex is strictly closed to all buyers. Inside, thousands of workers are frantically dismantling the booths from the previous phase and setting up the exhibits for the next phase.
For buyers staying through multiple phases, these interval days offer a perfect opportunity to rest, explore Guangzhou city, visit wholesale markets (which remain open), or travel to nearby manufacturing hubs like Shenzhen or Dongguan to visit supplier factories.
8. Is the Spring session different from the Autumn session?
In terms of structure and product categories, the Spring (April/May) and Autumn (October/November) sessions are virtually identical. Both sessions feature the exact same three phases with the exact same industries assigned to each phase. You will not miss a specific industry by choosing one session over the other.
However, the products on display may differ slightly. Suppliers often launch their new summer/back-to-school product lines during the Spring session, while the Autumn session is heavily focused on launching new products in time for the upcoming Christmas and Western holiday retail seasons.
9. What are the opening hours of the Canton Fair?
The Canton Fair Complex opens to buyers from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM every day during the active phases. The sheer size of the fair means you will need every single minute of these opening hours to effectively navigate the pavilions and negotiate with suppliers.
It is highly recommended to arrive at the complex early, around 9:00 AM, to clear the security and badge-scanning lines before the doors officially open. Wear extremely comfortable walking shoes, as you will easily walk 10 to 15 kilometers a day inside the complex.
10. Which phase is best for importing toys to India?
If you are an Indian importer looking to source toys, you must attend Phase 2 of the Canton Fair. The toy industry falls under the broader consumer goods and gifts category. Phase 2 features massive dedicated pavilions for baby toys, educational toys, electronic toys, and plush toys.
Because the toy market is heavily regulated in India (requiring BIS certification), attending Phase 2 allows you to speak face-to-face with Chinese manufacturers to ensure they possess the necessary certifications and quality control standards required for legal import into India.
11. Do Indian buyers need a specific visa for the dates?
Yes, Indian buyers must apply for a China Business (M) Visa to attend the Canton Fair. When applying, your visa dates must cover the specific phase you intend to visit. You cannot simply apply for a generic tourist visa and walk into the fair.
When securing your visa, ensure that your flight itineraries and hotel bookings perfectly align with the dates of your target phase. For example, if you are attending Phase 1 (April 15-19), your flight arrival should ideally be on April 13 or 14.
12. Are there different locations for different phases?
No, all three phases of the Canton Fair are held at the exact same location: The Canton Fair Complex (also known as the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center) located on Pazhou Island in the Haizhu District of Guangzhou.
While the location remains the same, the internal layout of the massive complex changes entirely between phases. Area A, Area B, Area C, and the new Area D will house completely different industries depending on whether you are visiting during Phase 1, Phase 2, or Phase 3.
13. Can I book a tour package for just one phase?
Absolutely. The vast majority of Indian buyers only book travel for the single phase that is relevant to their industry. The Tours Company offers highly customized Canton Fair tour packages designed explicitly around Phase 1, Phase 2, or Phase 3.
Our packages include your China M-Visa, round-trip flights perfectly timed for your specific phase, accommodation in 4 or 5-star hotels near the Pazhou complex, daily Indian meals, and dedicated airport-to-hotel-to-fairground transfers.
14. When is the best time to book travel for the fair?
You should book your flights, hotels, and visa processing at least 6 to 8 weeks before your intended phase begins. The Canton Fair attracts hundreds of thousands of international buyers, causing hotel prices in Guangzhou to triple or quadruple as the dates approach.
Furthermore, securing a VFS appointment for your China visa in India can take several weeks during the pre-fair rush. Booking your tour package two months in advance guarantees your hotel room, secures affordable flight fares, and ensures a stress-free visa approval process.
15. Is the Canton Fair open on weekends?
Yes, the Canton Fair remains open through the weekends. The phases are strictly defined by their dates (e.g., the 15th to the 19th), completely disregarding whether those dates fall on a Saturday or Sunday.
The fair operates at full capacity every single day of the 5-day phase. If your phase falls over a weekend, you can expect the exhibition halls to be just as busy, with all supplier booths fully staffed and operational from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
