Some events are just dates on a calendar; others tell the story of a country. The Canton Fair is the second kind. In 2026 it reaches its 140th edition, and the October session coincides with a rare milestone: the event’s 70th anniversary. For anyone importing from China, it is the chance to be present at an edition that goes down in history.
A fair that tells the story of Chinese trade
The Canton Fair, officially the China Import and Export Fair, was founded in 1957 in Guangzhou. It began when China was still almost closed to foreign trade and became, over the decades, the main gateway to doing business with Chinese manufacturers. Following its trajectory is, in a way, following China’s own economic opening to the world.
From a modest fair in the 1950s to the largest trade event on the planet, the Canton Fair has crossed seventy years without losing its central role: being the place where buyers from all over the world find, at a single address, Chinese industry in its full breadth. Held twice a year, in spring and autumn, it now counts 140 sessions.
Why the 140th edition is historic
Three factors make the October 2026 edition special:
- The 70th anniversary. This is the anniversary edition, celebrated by the fair organisers themselves as a milestone of seven decades of trade.
- The expected scale. Anniversary editions tend to draw more exhibitors, more buyers and a stronger programme. The expectation is one of the biggest ever.
- What it means for importers. Being present at a historic edition is, beyond the commercial opportunity, an experience that shapes your company’s relationship with China.
The practical angle: a bigger edition means more suppliers to meet, more new products and more competition for accommodation and flights. Whoever organises early gets the best of both.
A scale few events in the world reach
To grasp what visiting the Canton Fair means, it helps to look at the numbers from recent editions. It is a scale that is hard to picture before you see it up close, at the Pazhou complex, the largest convention centre in the world.
In recent editions the fair has brought together more than 30,000 exhibitors and hundreds of thousands of buyers from over 200 countries and regions, with business volumes in the tens of billions of dollars. No catalogue or online platform replaces the experience of walking those halls, seeing the product, testing the quality and negotiating face to face.
What to expect from the October 2026 edition
The 140th Canton Fair runs from 15 October to 4 November 2026, divided into three thematic phases. Each phase concentrates different sectors, so the ideal is to align your visit with your product:
| Phase | Dates | Sectors |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 15 to 19 October | Electronics, machinery, energy, vehicles, materials |
| Phase 2 | 23 to 27 October | Home, furniture, decoration, household goods, gifts |
| Phase 3 | 31 Oct to 4 Nov | Textiles, fashion, health, food, toys |
To choose correctly, see our guide on which phase of the Canton Fair to visit. And if your sector is electronics, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair takes place days before Phase 1, which lets you combine the two in a single trip.
Why decide early: the window that closes
Here is the point many people discover too late. Guangzhou fills up during the Canton Fair, and the hotels near Pazhou sell out months ahead, especially the mid and upper range ones. Flights to China also get more expensive and harder to find as the date approaches. In an anniversary edition, with even higher demand, that window closes sooner.
Deciding early is not only about securing accommodation and a flight: it is about having time to prepare the supplier schedule, organise the paperwork and design an itinerary that makes the most of the trip. Those who leave it to the last minute usually pay more and get less out of it.
Put plainly: if the 140th edition is in your plans, the moment to start organising is now, not in September.
How to attend a historic edition
The good news for Brazilian travellers is that the barrier to entry has never been lower. Since June 2025, Brazilian citizens enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days, which comfortably covers a trip to the fair. Even without a visa, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the return date, so check yours in advance. The details are in the guide to visas and the exemption for China.
Accreditation as a buyer is free, but the difference between an ordinary trip and a productive one lies in the preparation and the local support. Having taken Brazilian buyers to China for 18 years, BCVN organises business missions to the October 2026 Canton Fair with flights, well located hotels, high speed rail, transfers, entry passes and a bilingual guide from start to finish, and it also allows you to add days of sightseeing around the country, as we show in the guide on what to see in China.
To be at a historic edition, with everything organised and to the best standard, talk to our team:
Frequently asked questions about the 140th Canton Fair
Why is the 140th Canton Fair considered historic?
Because the October 2026 edition marks 70 years of the Canton Fair, founded in 1957. It is the largest trade fair in the world celebrating seven decades of history, with the expectation of being one of the biggest editions ever, which makes it a special moment for companies looking to find suppliers and close deals in China.
When does the October 2026 Canton Fair take place?
The 140th Canton Fair runs from 15 October to 4 November 2026, in Guangzhou, divided into three phases: Phase 1 from 15 to 19 October, Phase 2 from 23 to 27 October and Phase 3 from 31 October to 4 November.
When was the Canton Fair founded?
The Canton Fair, officially the China Import and Export Fair, was founded in 1957 and takes place twice a year, in spring and autumn. The October 2026 edition is the 140th session and marks 70 years of the event.
Will the October 2026 edition be bigger than previous ones?
The expectation is one of the biggest editions ever. Recent editions have already brought together more than 30,000 exhibitors and hundreds of thousands of buyers from over 200 countries. Because it is the 70th anniversary edition, demand for accommodation, flights and accreditation is likely to be even higher, which makes planning ahead all the more important.
How far in advance should I organise the trip to the Canton Fair?
The earlier the better. Hotels near the Pazhou complex and flights sell out months before the fair, and the 70th anniversary edition should attract an even larger number of visitors. Organising the trip several months in advance secures the best accommodation and flight options and the time needed to prepare the supplier schedule.
BCVN — Brasil China Viagens e Negócios has connected Brazilian companies to the best suppliers in China and Asia since 2008, and organises guided business missions to the Canton Fair and to the main Chinese trade fairs.