Complete Buyer’s Guide to the 2026 Autumn Canton Fair

The 140th Canton Fair, officially known as the China Import and Export Fair, will take place in Guangzhou in three phases during October and November 2026.

For international buyers, attending the Canton Fair involves more than simply booking a flight to Guangzhou. You need to choose the right exhibition phase, complete your overseas buyer registration, prepare the correct identification documents, check China’s latest visa requirements, and plan your transportation to the Canton Fair Complex.

This updated guide brings together the key information international buyers need for the 2026 Autumn Canton Fair.

Important: Immigration and exhibition-entry policies can change. Always verify your individual visa eligibility and the latest Canton Fair requirements before departure.

1. When Is the 2026 Autumn Canton Fair?

The 140th Canton Fair will be held at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Pazhou, Guangzhou.

The three phases are:

The official exhibition hours for overseas buyers are 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM daily.

There are also three changeover periods between the phases:

• October 20–22
• October 28–30

If your sourcing interests span multiple phases, plan your Guangzhou stay accordingly rather than assuming that all product categories will be available throughout the entire Fair.

2. Which Canton Fair Phase Should You Attend?

Choosing the right phase can save you several days of travel and significantly improve your sourcing efficiency.

Phase 1: Advanced Manufacturing

Phase 1 is the best choice for buyers sourcing:

• Household electrical appliances
• Consumer electronics
• Industrial automation
• Intelligent manufacturing equipment
• Processing machinery
• Power and electrical equipment
• Construction and agricultural machinery
• New energy products
• New energy vehicles
• Vehicles and vehicle parts
• Motorcycles and bicycles
• Lighting
• Hardware and tools

If you are a manufacturer, distributor, engineering company or industrial procurement professional, Phase 1 is likely to be the most relevant.

Phase 2: Quality Home Life

Phase 2 focuses heavily on consumer and home-related products, including:

• Kitchenware and tableware
• Household items
• General ceramics
• Glassware
• Home decorations
• Gardening products
• Festival products
• Gifts and premiums
• Clocks, watches and optical products
• Building and decorative materials
• Bathroom and sanitary equipment
• Furniture

For importers and retailers looking for kitchen products, housewares, home décor or furniture suppliers, Phase 2 is usually the key session.

Phase 3: Better Life

Phase 3 covers a broad range of lifestyle and consumer categories:

• Clothing and fashion
• Underwear
• Sports and casual wear
• Textile fabrics
• Shoes
• Cases and bags
• Home textiles
• Carpets and tapestries
• Office supplies
• Toys
• Baby and maternity products
• Medicines, health products and medical devices
• Food
• Sports, travel and recreation products
• Personal care products
• Toiletries
• Pet products and food

The official Canton Fair product classification should be checked when planning your visit, especially if you are targeting a specific product category.

3. How Overseas Buyers Register for the Canton Fair

Foreign buyers attending the physical exhibition need an Overseas Buyer Badge.

The safest approach is to complete pre-registration through the official Canton Fair Buyer Service System before traveling to Guangzhou.

The official registration platform allows overseas buyers to complete pre-registration and apply for their buyer badge.

Official Canton Fair Buyer Service System

What documents do you need?

According to the latest 2026 Canton Fair badge guidance, overseas buyers should prepare:

1. An original valid identification document, such as a foreign passport.
2. A business card.
3. The pre-registration QR code receipt, either electronically or in printed form.

For foreign passport holders, the original passport is the key identification document.

The latest official guidance does not state that a passport must have six months of remaining validity specifically for obtaining a Canton Fair buyer badge. Instead, immigration requirements should be checked separately according to your nationality and travel circumstances.

4. Is the Canton Fair Buyer Badge Free?

Yes.

For the 140th Canton Fair, new Overseas Buyer Badge applications, replacements and renewals are free of charge.

If you already have a valid Overseas Buyer Badge from a previous session, you may be able to use it directly after verification without activating or reapplying for the badge.

If your badge is lost or you need a replacement at the exhibition complex, a replacement fee of RMB 200 per badge applies.

5. Where Can Overseas Buyers Get Their Badges?

The Canton Fair provides both remote registration locations and registration offices at the exhibition complex.

Remote registration locations can include:

• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
• Designated hotels in Guangzhou
• The Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office

The Fair strongly encourages overseas buyers to complete pre-registration and, where possible, obtain their badges at a remote registration point before arriving at the exhibition complex.

This can help reduce waiting time at the exhibition venue.

6. Can You Attend With an Old Canton Fair Badge?

If you have a valid Overseas Buyer Badge from a previous session, the Canton Fair says you can use it to enter the Fair Complex after verification, without activating the badge again.

However, older badges issued on the basis of a work visa at or before the 134th Canton Fair are no longer valid under the current arrangement. Buyers affected by this rule should follow the current application procedure.

7. Do You Need a Chinese Visa to Attend the Canton Fair?

This depends on your nationality and travel itinerary.

China currently has several different visa-free mechanisms, and they should not be confused with one another.

For eligible nationalities, China offers a 30-day unilateral visa-free entry policy for ordinary passport holders. China also operates a separate 240-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens of designated countries who meet specific transit requirements.

Attending a trade exhibition is specifically included among the eligible purposes under the current 30-day unilateral visa-free policy, provided the traveler meets all other requirements.

8. Countries Currently Covered by China’s 30-Day Visa-Free Policy

As of the latest official information, ordinary passport holders from 50 countries are covered by China’s unilateral visa-free entry policy for eligible purposes.

The countries include:

Europe:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Oceania:
Australia and New Zealand.

Asia:
Bahrain, Brunei, Japan, Kuwait, Oman, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.

Americas:
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru and Uruguay.

Eligible ordinary passport holders can generally enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visits to relatives or friends, exchange visits and transit for stays of no more than 30 days.

The current policy has different expiration arrangements by nationality. The official guidance states that the policy for Brunei has no specified expiration date, Russia’s policy runs through December 31, 2027, and the policy for the other 48 countries runs through December 31, 2026.

A particularly important point for Canton Fair buyers

China’s official visa-free FAQ explicitly states that foreign nationals coming to China to participate in exhibitions and trade fairs can qualify for visa-free entry if they meet the requirements and stay no more than 30 days.

Therefore, eligible buyers do not need to obtain a Chinese business visa simply because they are attending the Canton Fair.

However, visa-free entry does not apply to every nationality, and it does not cover activities such as employment or other activities requiring prior approval.

9. What About U.S. Citizens?

U.S. citizens should pay particular attention to the distinction between 30-day visa-free entry and 240-hour visa-free transit.

The United States is currently included in China’s 240-hour visa-free transit program.

Under this policy, eligible U.S. citizens may transit through China without a visa for up to 240 hours, provided they satisfy the relevant requirements.

The traveler must be traveling onward to a third country or region, rather than simply returning to the country from which they arrived.

For example:

United States → Guangzhou → Hong Kong

may qualify as a transit itinerary, subject to the applicable requirements.

By contrast:

United States → Guangzhou → United States

does not satisfy the third-country/region transit requirement.

The current 240-hour transit policy covers citizens of 57 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and several European and Latin American countries.

Travelers must hold an ordinary passport and confirmed onward transportation arrangements to a third country or region, among other requirements.

10. Is a 10-Year Chinese Business Visa Required for U.S. Buyers?

Not necessarily.

U.S. citizens who do not qualify for a visa-free entry or transit arrangement may apply for an appropriate Chinese visa, such as an M visa for business purposes, subject to the current requirements and the decision of the Chinese visa authorities.

Do not assume that every U.S. applicant will automatically receive a 10-year multiple-entry M visa.

Visa validity, number of entries and permitted stay are determined according to the applicable rules and the individual visa decision.

For buyers planning repeated visits to China, checking the current requirements with the appropriate Chinese embassy or consulate before applying is recommended.

11. Important Visa Mistakes to Avoid

Several commonly repeated claims about China’s visa policy are incorrect.

Turkey is not currently included in the 30-day unilateral visa-free list described above.

Do not assume that Turkish ordinary passport holders can enter China visa-free for 30 days under this policy.

Ecuador and Suriname are not included in the current 30-day unilateral visa-free list.

Buyers from these countries should check the visa requirements applicable to their nationality instead of relying on generalized claims about South American visa-free access.

Visa-free entry is not the same as visa-free transit.

A traveler may qualify for one policy but not the other.

Always check which policy applies to your exact nationality, passport type, itinerary and purpose of travel.

12. Documents You Should Carry When Entering China

Even when you qualify for visa-free entry, it is sensible to carry documents supporting your travel purpose.

Chinese authorities recommend that eligible visa-free travelers carry supporting documents such as:

• An invitation letter, if applicable
• Air tickets
• Hotel reservations
• Canton Fair registration information
• Your business card
• Information about your business activities in China

Border inspection authorities may examine whether your actual purpose of travel matches the requirements of the applicable visa-free policy.

13. How to Get From Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to the Canton Fair

The Canton Fair Complex is located at:

No. 382 Yuejiang Zhong Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

The exhibition complex is served by Guangzhou Metro, taxis and other transportation services.

For many visitors arriving at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Metro Line 3 followed by Line 8 provides a practical public transportation option to the Pazhou exhibition area.

The Canton Fair’s official transportation guidance also provides airport, railway and shuttle-bus information.

14. Guangzhou Metro to the Canton Fair

Guangzhou Metro Line 8 serves the Pazhou exhibition area.

Two particularly useful stations are:

Xingangdong Station — convenient for exhibition Areas A and B.

Pazhou Station — convenient for exhibition Areas C and D.

Because the exact hall and entrance can vary according to the product category and current exhibition layout, check the latest Canton Fair buyer guide before heading to the venue.

15. Traveling From Hong Kong to the Canton Fair

Hong Kong can be a convenient gateway for international buyers.

Travelers can reach Guangzhou by several transportation options, including cross-border rail and ferry services.

The Canton Fair also maintains a Hong Kong representative office and provides buyer-registration services there.

If you plan to use Hong Kong International Airport and a cross-border ferry connection, check the latest airline, baggage-transfer and ferry requirements before booking.

Do not assume that every passenger can automatically transfer to the ferry without clearing Hong Kong immigration or collecting checked baggage. These arrangements can depend on the airline, ticketing arrangement and baggage-transfer service.

The official Canton Fair website should be consulted for the latest transportation arrangements.

16. Pazhou Ferry Terminal

Guangzhou’s Pazhou Ferry Terminal is located close to the Canton Fair Complex and is also one of the ports included in China’s 240-hour visa-free transit system.

This makes Pazhou particularly relevant to international visitors using qualifying cross-border ferry itineraries.

However, immigration eligibility and ferry transportation are two separate issues. Being able to arrive at Pazhou by ferry does not automatically mean that a traveler qualifies for visa-free transit.

Travelers should confirm both their ferry itinerary and their immigration eligibility before departure.

17. Hotels and Canton Fair Shuttle Buses

During the Canton Fair, some hotels and service providers may arrange shuttle buses to the exhibition complex.

However, shuttle availability, operating times and pickup locations can vary by hotel and by exhibition phase.

Therefore, international buyers should confirm the schedule directly with their hotel rather than relying on a general statement that every major hotel provides a free Canton Fair shuttle.

The Canton Fair also publishes transportation information and provides official visitor services during the exhibition.

18. Payments in Guangzhou

International visitors can generally use mobile payment services such as Alipay and WeChat Pay, and supported international bank cards can be linked to these services.

These payment options can be useful for:

• Metro transportation
• Restaurants
• Retail purchases
• Taxis
• Convenience stores
• Other everyday expenses

However, card-network compatibility and account verification can vary by card issuer and country.

For a smoother trip, set up your preferred mobile payment method before arriving in Guangzhou and keep a backup payment option available.

19. Mobile Internet and eSIM

International buyers should arrange mobile connectivity before traveling to China.

Depending on your home country and service provider, options may include:

• International roaming
• China-compatible eSIM services
• A local SIM card
• A corporate roaming plan

Do not assume that every eSIM advertised for the “Greater Bay Area” will provide identical coverage or access to the same online services.

Before departure, confirm:

• Mainland China coverage
• Data allowance
• Roaming conditions
• Whether hotspot/tethering is supported
• Which international services are accessible through the provider’s network

For business travelers, reliable connectivity is particularly important because the Canton Fair often involves real-time communication with suppliers, colleagues and logistics providers.

20. Practical Checklist for Overseas Buyers

Before leaving for Guangzhou, make sure you have:

☐ Completed Canton Fair overseas buyer pre-registration

☐ Saved your pre-registration QR code

☐ Prepared your original passport or other accepted identification document

☐ Prepared your business card

☐ Confirmed which Canton Fair phase you need to attend

☐ Checked whether you qualify for China’s visa-free entry policy

☐ If using 240-hour transit, confirmed that your itinerary meets the third-country/region requirement

☐ Booked accommodation in Guangzhou or nearby

☐ Arranged airport or cross-border transportation

☐ Set up mobile payment

☐ Arranged mobile internet/eSIM/roaming

☐ Saved your hotel address in Chinese

☐ Saved the Canton Fair Complex address and your target exhibition halls

☐ Prepared supplier meeting schedules and contact information

21. Final Advice for First-Time Canton Fair Buyers

The Canton Fair is enormous, and efficient preparation can make a significant difference.

Do not simply arrive in Guangzhou and start walking through the exhibition halls.

Instead, prepare a sourcing plan before your trip.

First, identify the correct exhibition phase.

Second, pre-register for your Overseas Buyer Badge.

Third, verify your immigration and visa situation based on your nationality and itinerary.

Fourth, make a list of the suppliers or product categories you want to investigate.

Finally, leave enough time for supplier meetings, factory visits, product comparisons and price negotiations.

For international buyers, the goal should not be to see as many booths as possible. The goal is to identify the right suppliers and establish meaningful business relationships.

Official Resources

For the most current information, use the official Canton Fair and Chinese immigration websites:

Canton Fair Official Website

Canton Fair Overseas Buyer Registration System

China National Immigration Administration

Visa policies, entry requirements, transportation schedules and exhibition services may change. Always check the latest official information before traveling.