Canton Fair 2026 has two cycles: spring 15 April – 5 May and autumn 15 October – 4 November, each in three phases. If you do not know which phase you walk, you walk the wrong halls.
Fair page: Canton Fair 2026. Dates: calendar. Which phase: Guangzhou fair 2026.
Before the flight
- Trip goal: for example 3 names on a shortlist for SKU X, not “see what is there”.
- Phase: electronics/machines (1), home/furniture (2), fashion/textile (3).
- Spec / sample board.
- Question list: MOQ, lead time, factory or trader, export, tooling, QC.
- Meetings booked: 8–12 booths.
- Budget: samples, courier, transfers, one free day for a factory visit.
- Visa and a hotel near Pazhou. Time costs more than a hotel gap.
City map: Guangzhou.
At the fair
Morning: priority meetings. Afternoon: research in the same hall. Evening: notes the same day (booth photo, name, WeChat, quote).
Five questions in five minutes:
- Factory or trading company? Where is the line?
- MOQ and usual lead time?
- Export to the EU?
- Custom work to our drawing?
- Sample price and who decides price?
A booth price is not final. The deal closes at the factory.
After the fair
Without a line visit, a WeChat archive is not sourcing. Papillon books factory visits, samples, RFQ and landed cost before deposit.
Next step
Send a brief: category, quantity, date. You get a reply within 24 hours with a landed-cost outline where we can price it.
