Which 2026 Canton Fair phase fits your products? A buyer-first planning guide
GBA Executive Cars editorial · Sources checked 2026-10-01
Start with the products you need to source, not a hotel booking or a car reservation. The autumn 140th Canton Fair runs in three phases—15–19 October, 23–27 October and 31 October–4 November 2026—with changeover gaps in between. Match the product to a phase, confirm the actual exhibitor and stand, then build the journey around those facts.
- A product category identifies a likely phase; it does not confirm a particular exhibitor.
- Check the current official hall map and the supplier’s stand before fixing a meeting point.
- The two changeover intervals are not regular exhibition days.
- Private transport is useful when the confirmed itinerary involves a group, baggage or multiple stops; it is not required for every buyer.
On this page
Start with a specific shopping list, not a broad industry label
The organiser describes Phase 1 as Advanced Manufacturing, Phase 2 as Quality Home Living, and Phase 3 as Better Life. Those themes are a useful first filter, but “home products” or “machinery” is too broad for a meeting calendar. Write the item type, material, intended use and any key specifications. Compare that list with the official 140th-session buyer information, then search the Canton Fair buyer and exhibitor services for the company or product. Keep a separate status for a likely category and a meeting the supplier has actually accepted.
Scroll sideways to read the full table.
| Examples to research | Phase to check first | Second verification |
|---|---|---|
| Appliances, industrial automation, lighting, new energy, hardware and tools | Phase 1, 15–19 October | Current exhibitor and stand |
| Tableware, ceramics, furniture, building materials, gifts and home decoration | Phase 2, 23–27 October | Correct section and hall |
| Fashion, home textiles, toys and baby products, stationery, health and leisure | Phase 3, 31 October–4 November | Current exhibitor and stand |
This is a route into the official material, not a full or permanent category list. If your buying brief crosses two phases, do not mark the intervening dates as ordinary fair days: 20–22 and 28–30 October are changeover periods.
- Specify
Write the product and its key specifications.
- Select
Check the official 140th phase theme.
- Verify
Confirm the exhibitor and current stand.
- Travel
Quote against actual addresses and people.
Editorial planning aid, not an organiser or vehicle guarantee.
Turn a phase choice into a hall-and-stand itinerary
Open the organiser’s current maps for Phase 1, Phase 2 or Phase 3. Locate the product section, then compare it with the supplier’s own stand confirmation. Hall allocation can be revised; a guessed hall from a category list is not a confirmed appointment. Save the full stand reference in a shareable note that works offline, together with the supplier contact and agreed meeting time.
Group appointments by area where possible. A team sourcing different product families may work more efficiently if colleagues split between halls and meet later, rather than escorting everyone across the whole complex for each conversation. Set a practical review point at the end of the day: which suppliers need a second meeting, which specifications remain unanswered, and which phase or venue is next. The fair’s general address is not enough to direct a group to a stand.
If you need two phases, make the changeover days a separate decision
A buyer attending Phase 1 and Phase 2, or Phase 2 and Phase 3, must account for a gap in the onsite exhibition. You might leave Guangzhou and return, remain to conduct previously arranged supplier meetings, or visit another city. None of these alternatives is automatic: confirm the other party’s availability, hotel terms, baggage arrangement and travel documents first. Compare the full door-to-door burden—including each check-in and transfer—rather than only one fare or one night’s room price.
A small team with several confirmed addresses can ask about our day-hire car service. A visitor making a simple hotel-to-venue trip may instead use the daily venue-transfer guide to choose each leg. A car should follow a valid buying schedule, not be used to invent one.
A worked buying decision: two product families in different phases
Illustrative scenario: your team needs industrial automation components and kitchenware. The official categories point you toward Phase 1 for the first brief and Phase 2 for the second. That is only a research direction: it does not show that any particular company has accepted a meeting. Search the current exhibitor database, shortlist candidates against technical requirements and ask each company to confirm its stand and available date. If the Phase 2 shortlist fails the specifications, there is no business reason to stay through the gap just because “kitchenware” appears in that phase.
If both phases remain necessary, mark 20–22 October as non-exhibition days in the calendar. You may leave Guangzhou and return, or use the gap for supplier meetings that have been separately agreed. Work out hotel and transport implications only after the appointments exist. For a party carrying samples, make a handoff note that says who owns each piece and whether it travels with the group, stays at an agreed hotel storage point, or follows a separate arrangement. Do not rely on a booked car, available room or attractive fare as evidence that a supplier will be present. The first decision is commercial; the second is logistical.
Our car service: convert confirmed meetings into a clear transport request
Once the exhibitor details are settled, send the actual pickup address, date, passenger and luggage count, first destination, hotel stop if needed, and the next confirmed city or supplier address. Our exhibition transfer service can coordinate an eligible Hong Kong–Guangzhou or local leg; enter every stop on the enquiry form so waiting and route scope can be quoted in writing. This is a commercial transport option offered by this site, not an official Canton Fair service or endorsement.
Vehicle access and stopping points depend on the day’s traffic management and the agreed practical meeting place. A booked vehicle does not ensure a particular hall-door pickup, a fixed journey time, faster border clearance or admission to the fair. Tell colleagues both the stand where they finish and the separate, confirmed place where they will meet the driver.
Frequently asked questions
Should I book accommodation before choosing a phase?
Can I visit the exhibition during a changeover gap?
Does the phase list prove a company will exhibit?
Translate the buying calendar into a transport brief
Share the legs you actually need. We will check vehicle availability and send a written scope and quote for the confirmed addresses.
- 2026 fair phase and travel date
- Exact Hong Kong or Guangzhou pickup address
- Hotel, target exhibition area and any confirmed intermediate stops
- Passenger and luggage count; whether waiting is required
Opening the link prepares a message. You choose whether to send it, then obtain written confirmation of the itinerary and quote.
Sources and scope
- Official 140th Canton Fair information for overseas buyers
Autumn 2026 phases, product categories and changeover gaps. Does not confirm a specific exhibitor or unchanging stand. · Checked 2026-10-01
- Official Phase 1 floor map
Current Phase 1 section mapping. Recheck before travel. · Checked 2026-10-01
- Official Phase 2 floor map
Current Phase 2 section mapping. Recheck before travel. · Checked 2026-10-01
- Official Phase 3 floor map
Current Phase 3 section mapping. Recheck before travel. · Checked 2026-10-01