Plan at a glance
- Match your products to the correct phase.
- Separate buyer registration from travel services.
- Keep sightseeing outside key business appointments.
The current published dates
The official Canton Fair dates for the 140th autumn session in 2026 are 15–19 October for Phase 1, 23–27 October for Phase 2, and 31 October–4 November for Phase 3. This guide was checked on 23 October 2026; use the official fair site for later sessions.
The phases cover different product groups. Do not book the entire date range assuming the same exhibitors remain throughout. Check the product-category list and contact the exhibitors you intend to meet.
If your business spans phases, account for the gap days. They may suit meetings, supplier visits or a leisure break, but should not be counted as ordinary open exhibition days.
Official information: Canton Fair official dates and product phases
Registration is a separate task
Follow the official overseas-buyer registration and badge instructions. A hotel booking, invitation request or travel itinerary does not automatically provide entry to the fair. Check what documents you need and when the badge must be collected or activated.
Keep business details, appointments and contact names organised before arrival. Save a copy offline so that a connection problem does not interrupt the first meeting.
Entry permission to mainland China is also separate from fair registration. Check the rules for your passport and business purpose through the appropriate official channels before purchasing inflexible travel.
Official information: Canton Fair official buyer services
Choose a practical base
Compare hotels by the journey to the Pazhou exhibition complex and the meetings you plan. A room closer to leisure sights may create a longer commute. Check the actual entrance and transport connection rather than a broad district description.
If a hotel advertises a fair shuttle, confirm the dates, timetable, booking process and return pickup. A shuttle name alone does not guarantee a seat at the time you need.
Leave a margin before important appointments. Large exhibition grounds and busy arrivals mean that reaching the area is not the same as reaching a particular hall or stand.
Adding a city visit
Keep leisure plans modest on exhibition days. A Cantonese meal or short riverfront walk is easier to adjust than a timed attraction across the city. Put a longer sightseeing day before or after the key business dates.
Tell a travel planner which appointments are fixed and which are provisional. Travel services can organise local logistics, but should not promise business outcomes, exhibitor access or entry approvals.
Before final booking, recheck the phase, badge process, hotel terms and transport. Those decisions matter more than squeezing another attraction into a working day.