Canton Fair Spring 2027 (141st): Dates and Phases
Last checked October 19, 2026 against official sources. How we check
Quick answer
The 141st Canton Fair (Spring 2027) is expected to open in mid-April 2027, but the organiser has not announced dates. It runs in three phases of five days each. The 140th session, October 15 to November 4, 2026, shows the pattern. Plan around mid-April and check the official site before you book.
Key facts
| 141st session (Spring 2027) | Expected mid-April 2027, dates to be confirmed |
|---|---|
| 140th session (Autumn 2026) | October 15 to November 4, 2026, in three phases |
| Phase length | 5 days each, with a gap of 3 days between phases |
| Venue | Canton Fair Complex, Pazhou, Haizhu District |
| Entry | Free buyer badge, issued after pre-registration |
What we know about the 141st session
The organiser has not announced dates for the 141st China Import and Export Fair, the spring 2027 session. We expect it to open in mid-April 2027, because the fair has opened in the middle of April and the middle of October for years. The 139th session opened on April 15, 2026 and the 140th opened on October 15, 2026.
“Expected” is not “confirmed”. Until the Canton Fair website or the Ministry of Commerce publishes a notice, treat any exact April date you see on a listing site as a guess. We will update this page when the notice appears.
How the three phases worked in 2026
The organiser’s notice for the 140th session sets out three phases of five days each:
| Phase | Dates | Gap before next |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | October 15–19, 2026 | 3 days |
| Phase 2 | October 23–27, 2026 | 3 days |
| Phase 3 | October 31 to November 4, 2026 | none |
The notice lists 54 exhibition zones and attaches a table showing which zones appear in which phase. Exhibitors change between phases, so most stands are open in only one of the three. Use that table, on the official site, to pick your phase before you book anything.
The Ministry of Commerce said at its September 18, 2026 press conference that the 140th session would host more than 32,000 companies and that more than 210,000 overseas buyers had already pre-registered. Xinhua put the fair’s exhibition area at 1.55 million square metres, so a single phase is already a lot of walking. See Canton Fair for first-timers for what that means in practice.
How many days should you plan?
One phase is the normal unit. A traveller on Reddit wrote that two to three days is enough if you already know the product you are looking for, and that even five days is not enough if you do not. Plan your hotel nights around the phase you pick, plus a day either side for travel and badge collection.
What to do before the dates are announced
- Check whether you need a visa. Many passports can enter China without one for business visits. Use the visa-free checker, and read China 30-day visa-free entry for the end date of the current list. If you do need an M visa, see the invitation letter and M visa guide.
- Open a buyer account. Badge pre-registration is online and free. The steps are in Canton Fair registration, badge and collection.
- Watch hotel prices. Travellers report that rooms near the venue sell out and prices rise sharply in the fair weeks. Read where to stay for the Canton Fair before you book.
- Hold off on non-refundable tickets until the organiser confirms the dates.
Where to check for updates
- The Canton Fair official site.
- The Ministry of Commerce, which held a press conference on September 18, 2026 before the 140th session (reported by Xinhua).
- The organiser’s call centre: 4000-888-999 inside mainland China, or (8620) 28-888-999 from abroad. The official site lists both.
Addresses in Chinese
- China Import and Export Fair Complex (Canton Fair Complex) 中国进出口商品交易会展馆广州市海珠区阅江中路380号No. 380 Yuejiang Zhong Road is the complex; No. 382 is the organiser's office, so show this card to drivers
Traps and how to avoid them
- Booking non-refundable flights before the dates are official
The 141st session has no announced dates yet. Book a refundable fare or wait for the notice, because past sessions opened on April 15 and October 15 but the organiser sets each one.
- Treating the fair as one event
Each phase shows different products. Look up which phase lists your product category in the official notice, then plan your trip around that phase only.
- Using a listing site's dates for 2027
Event listing sites often copy an expected date as if it were final. Only the Canton Fair website and Ministry of Commerce announcements count.
FAQ
How many times a year is the Canton Fair held?
Twice: a spring session opening around April 15 and an autumn session opening around October 15. The 139th opened on April 15, 2026 and the 140th opened on October 15, 2026.
Is the 141st Canton Fair in April 2027 confirmed?
Not yet. We list mid-April 2027 as an expectation based on past sessions. The organiser announces the schedule and phase dates later; for the 140th session they appeared in its 2026 buyer guide and its May 5, 2026 exhibitor notice.
How many days do I need at the fair?
A traveller on Reddit wrote that two to three days is enough if you know the product you want, and that even five days is not enough if you do not. The three phases cover different products, so most visitors attend one.
Do I need to attend all three phases?
No. Each phase has its own exhibitor list and product zones, so you only attend the phase that matches what you want to see.
When should I start registering for spring 2027?
Now. The organiser opened overseas buyer pre-registration all year round in August 2026, so you do not need to wait for the 141st dates. Register early if you need an invitation letter and visa, because they take extra time.
Sources
- Canton Fair (official): notice on the 140th session with the three phase dates (in Chinese)
- Xinhua: 140th Canton Fair in south China to draw over 32,000 exhibitors (Ministry of Commerce, September 18, 2026)
- Canton Fair official site (English)
- Canton Fair: First-Ever Year-Round Overseas Buyer Pre-registration (August 19, 2026)
- Canton Fair: 2026 Attendance Guide for Overseas Buyers (PDF)
- Newsgd: services for international buyers at Baiyun Airport ahead of the 139th session
- Reddit r/guangzhou thread, February 7, 2026
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.
