Furniture buyers should generally prioritise Phase 2 of the 140th Canton Fair, which runs from October 23 to 27, 2026. The full autumn exhibition takes place in three phases, from October 15 to November 4, in Guangzhou, China.
However, the right travel dates depend on your product list. A hotel furniture buyer may focus on Phase 2, while a buyer sourcing medical devices or specialised healthcare equipment may also need Phase 3.
Therefore, check each shortlisted supplier’s exhibition category, phase and booth before booking flights. Do not assume that every product used in a hospital, school or hotel appears in the same phase.
This guide explains the Canton Fair autumn 2026 dates, furniture categories, overseas buyer registration and factory-visit planning. It also shows how to prepare a clear procurement brief before meeting suppliers.
Quick answer: Attend Phase 2, October 23–27, for furniture sourcing. If your scope includes medical devices or specialised equipment, review the Phase 3 exhibitor list as well. Then confirm appointments with each supplier before finalising your trip.
Key Takeaways
- The 140th Canton Fair runs in three phases: October 15–19, October 23–27 and October 31–November 4, 2026.
- Furniture buyers should generally focus on Phase 2. However, individual supplier participation and product availability still require confirmation.
- Medical and health-related products appear in Phase 3, but this does not mean that all healthcare furniture belongs to that phase. Review the actual exhibitor and product listings.
- The gaps between exhibition phases can provide time for pre-booked factory visits, showroom meetings and technical discussions.
- Overseas buyers can use the official Buyer Service System to manage registration, badge applications and invitation requests.
- A written product list, quantities, drawings and delivery requirements make supplier meetings more useful.
- Factory size and a certificate list should not replace product samples, document checks and a clear quality plan.
- HONGYE can discuss project requirements and factory-visit arrangements. Buyers should request confirmed exhibition details rather than assume a particular booth or phase.
What Is the Canton Fair?
The Canton Fair is formally known as the China Import and Export Fair. Its autumn 2026 edition is the 140th fair, held in Guangzhou from October 15 to November 4.
The venue is the Canton Fair Complex at No. 382, Yuejiang Zhong Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou. Buyers can find organiser information and current notices on the official Canton Fair website.
Unlike a continuous exhibition, the fair divides products across separate phases. Consequently, choosing the correct phase matters more than simply arriving during the overall event period.
For example, a buyer attending only the opening week should not expect the furniture exhibition to be available. Instead, furniture-focused travel should align with the second phase.
Before departure, review the official exhibitor directory and venue information. Supplier appointments, hall locations and product categories should guide your daily route.
Canton Fair Autumn 2026 Dates and Phases
The following table summarises the autumn schedule. Use it for initial planning, then verify the current exhibitor information before travel.
| Phase | Dates | Main Product Direction | Relevance to Furniture Buyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | October 15–19, 2026 | Electronics, appliances, machinery, vehicles, hardware and lighting-related products | Useful for selected components, lighting and related sourcing |
| Between phases | October 20–22, 2026 | Exhibition changeover | Opportunity for pre-booked offsite meetings and factory visits |
| Phase 2 | October 23–27, 2026 | Furniture, building and decorative materials, sanitary products, housewares and home decoration | Main phase for furniture sourcing |
| Between phases | October 28–30, 2026 | Exhibition changeover | Opportunity for sample discussions, showroom visits and factory meetings |
| Phase 3 | October 31–November 4, 2026 | Textiles, apparel, stationery, medical and health-related products, among other categories | Relevant to selected equipment, healthcare and complementary product scopes |
During the changeover periods, the onsite exhibition pauses while halls prepare for the next phase. However, buyers can still arrange meetings outside the exhibition.
Therefore, these dates can work well for factory visits. Confirm availability in advance, because production teams and sales representatives may have busy fair-period schedules.
Also, do not assume that a booth remains available across all three phases. The product categories change, so every appointment needs its own phase and location confirmation.
Which Canton Fair Phase Has Furniture?
Furniture appears in Phase 2, October 23–27, 2026. This is the main starting point for buyers sourcing hotel, office, residential and other furniture products.
However, a project’s sector does not always determine the exhibition category.
For instance, a hospital project may require ordinary desks, storage cabinets and waiting-area chairs. It may also require medical beds, rehabilitation equipment or clinical devices. Those products can involve different exhibition categories and suppliers.
Therefore, separate your procurement list into product groups before selecting travel dates.
Hotel and Hospitality Furniture
Hotel buyers may need to review:
- Guestroom casegoods.
- Beds and headboards.
- Wardrobes and desks.
- Lounge chairs and sofas.
- Restaurant tables and seating.
- Banquet furniture.
- Outdoor furniture.
- Selected decorative pieces.
Start with the furniture exhibition, then check whether lighting, textiles or equipment require additional appointments.
Hotel Furniture
Office and Education Furniture
Office and education buyers may look for workstations, meeting tables, seating, storage and classroom furniture.
However, the actual supplier directory should determine your shortlist. Ask whether the supplier will display the product category you need, rather than assuming that its full catalogue will appear at the booth.
Office Furniture
Healthcare Furniture and Equipment
For healthcare projects, distinguish furniture from medical equipment.
Phase 3 includes medical and health-related products. Nevertheless, buyers should confirm the placement of specialised items through the official directory and supplier information.
If your project covers both furniture and equipment, a trip spanning two phases may be useful. Alternatively, you can assign different team members to different sourcing categories.
Healthcare Furniture
How to Register as an Overseas Buyer
Use the official Canton Fair Buyer Service System for overseas buyer registration.
The organiser’s guidance explains how buyers can create or access an account, apply for a buyer badge and request an invitation. Existing buyers can also retrieve their previous information through the system.
First-Time Buyers
First, create an account using your email address.
Next, complete your company and personal information. The official process may require identification details and a suitable badge photograph.
Then, submit the overseas buyer badge application. Where the system offers the option, you can request an invitation at the same time.
Finally, follow the current instructions for application review and badge collection. The organiser’s guidance refers to designated collection locations and original identification documents.
Returning Buyers
If you already have an account or overseas buyer badge, log in rather than creating duplicate records.
After that, check your personal information, company details and intended attendance phases. Confirm the current requirements for using or collecting your badge.
Registration Details to Check
Before travel, confirm:
- Account access.
- Name consistency with your identification.
- Company information.
- Attendance phases.
- Badge application status.
- Required original documents.
- Collection location and service hours.
- Invitation status, if requested.
Registration procedures can change between editions. Therefore, use the organiser’s latest instructions rather than an old screenshot or a previous buyer’s experience.
Check Entry Requirements Before Booking
Entry requirements depend on your nationality, passport type, travel purpose, length of stay and current policies.
Therefore, confirm the applicable visa or visa-free arrangements with official authorities before making non-refundable bookings.
A Canton Fair invitation can support travel preparation. However, it does not guarantee a visa or entry approval.
Similarly, an invitation from a furniture supplier is not necessarily the same as an invitation generated through the official fair system.
Ask the relevant embassy, consulate or official entry-information service which documents apply to your situation. Then allow enough time to complete the required process.
How Many Days Should Furniture Buyers Plan?
There is no universal minimum trip length. The right stay depends on your supplier shortlist, product categories, meeting schedule and factory locations.
For a focused furniture trip, consider several fair days plus time for selected factory visits. However, a multi-category programme may need a longer stay.
Instead of planning only by exhibition dates, build the itinerary around decisions you need to make.
An Illustrative Five-Day Trip
- Day 1: Arrive, confirm badge arrangements and review supplier appointments.
- Day 2: Screen shortlisted suppliers and review product ranges.
- Day 3: Hold technical meetings and compare materials, quotations and samples.
- Day 4: Visit a selected factory or showroom by appointment.
- Day 5: Complete follow-up discussions and prepare for departure.
This is a planning example, not a required schedule.
If you need several factory audits, add time for travel and detailed review. Likewise, if the project includes products from another fair phase, adjust the itinerary accordingly.
Combine Fair Meetings With Factory Visits
A fair booth helps you compare appearance, materials and supplier communication. However, it does not show the entire production process.
A factory visit can help you review the capabilities relevant to your project.
For example, a casegoods buyer may want to see panel processing, edging, assembly, finishing and packing. An upholstery buyer may focus on frame construction, cutting, sewing and cushion production.
Therefore, tell the supplier what you want to inspect before arranging the visit.
Ask the Factory to Confirm
- Manufacturing-site address.
- Visit date and available time.
- Processes you can review.
- Products currently in production.
- Relevant quality-control records.
- Sample-room availability.
- Subcontracted processes.
- Photography rules.
- Required safety arrangements.
- Transport or meeting-point details.
Travel time will depend on the starting point, destination and traffic. Consequently, confirm the route before arranging another appointment immediately afterwards.
The gaps between fair phases can be useful for offsite visits. Still, the best date is the one when the appropriate production and technical teams are available.
What to Bring to Supplier Meetings
A written procurement brief helps suppliers answer specific questions.
Without one, the conversation may end with a catalogue and a general price range. In contrast, a clear brief lets both parties discuss whether the product, budget and schedule fit.
| Preparation Item | What to Include | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Product list or BOQ | Item codes, descriptions and quantities | Defines the actual purchasing scope |
| Room or space matrix | Guestroom types, office areas or other project zones | Shows repetition and product variations |
| Drawings | Dimensions, construction and installation interfaces | Reduces assumptions |
| Material references | Board core, laminate, veneer, fabric, foam and metal finishes | Supports comparable quotations |
| Delivery information | Country, city, site conditions and target installation period | Supports logistics planning |
| Product requirements | Applicable testing, fire, emissions and electrical requirements | Identifies documentation needs |
| Commercial questions | MOQ, delivery term, warranty, samples and inspection | Clarifies supplier responsibilities |
| Meeting record | Supplier name, contact, notes and follow-up actions | Makes post-fair comparison easier |
Bring digital copies as well as a concise meeting summary. In addition, identify which documents are final and which remain under design review.
That distinction matters. A supplier may prepare a preliminary estimate from a concept drawing, but it should not treat that estimate as a production-ready specification.
Questions to Ask Canton Fair Furniture Suppliers
Use the exhibition to gather information—not only prices.
First, ask which company will sign the contract and which factory will manufacture the products. Next, confirm whether the supplier produces all categories directly or sources selected items elsewhere.
Then, discuss the product requirements.
Useful questions include:
- Can you manufacture to our drawings?
- Which materials and hardware does the quotation include?
- What MOQ applies to each design or material?
- What sample process do you offer?
- Which product-specific documents can you provide?
- How do you control drawing revisions?
- What inspection stages apply?
- How will you protect the furniture during transport?
- What delivery term will you quote?
- Who handles installation and warranty claims?
However, do not assume that a supplier’s certificate list covers every displayed item.
Request documents that match the actual product, material configuration and destination market. Then review the scope and current status before production approval.
How to Compare Suppliers After the Fair
A useful shortlist contains evidence, not just business cards.
After each meeting, record the product fit, material options, manufacturing arrangement, sample requirements and commercial conditions.
Next, send the same RFQ package to the suppliers you want to compare.
Their quotations should use the same:
- Product quantities.
- Drawing revisions.
- Material specifications.
- Hardware requirements.
- Packaging expectations.
- Inspection scope.
- Delivery basis.
- Installation responsibilities.
- Warranty requirements.
Otherwise, the lowest price may reflect a smaller scope or a different product.
Finally, decide which suppliers need further samples, document checks or factory review. A good fair meeting is the beginning of qualification, not the end of it.
HONGYE Furniture Project Discussions and Factory Visits
Guangdong Hongye Furniture Group Co., Ltd. supports commercial furniture projects across hotel, office, healthcare, education and other project environments.
HONGYE’s published company information states that it was founded in 1996, operates a manufacturing base of more than 300,000 square metres in Heshan, Jiangmen, Guangdong, and has more than 1,000 skilled employees. These are company-published figures that buyers can review during supplier qualification.
For qualified projects, buyers can discuss:
- Furniture schedules and quantities.
- Casegoods and seating.
- Material and finish samples.
- Custom product drawings.
- Mock-up requirements.
- Production planning.
- Packaging.
- Inspection coordination.
- Project-specific documentation.
- Factory-visit arrangements.
Hilton Guangzhou Baiyun Airport（Terminal 3） | Hospitality Project Solution By Hongye Furniture
If you want to meet HONGYE during the Canton Fair period, request current exhibition and appointment information from the team. Do not assume a particular phase or booth until the details are confirmed.
Product requirements, document availability, lead time and warranty should also be confirmed for the actual order. Factory scale alone does not establish those terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Canton Fair autumn 2026?
The 140th Canton Fair takes place in three phases: October 15–19, October 23–27 and October 31–November 4, 2026. It is held in Guangzhou, China.
Which phase of the Canton Fair has furniture?
Furniture is in Phase 2, October 23–27, 2026.
However, buyers should confirm the specific supplier, exhibition category and booth before arranging meetings.
Should healthcare furniture buyers attend Phase 3?
Not automatically.
Phase 3 includes medical and health-related products, but a healthcare project can also require furniture shown in other categories. Therefore, check each item and supplier individually.
How do overseas buyers register?
Use the official Canton Fair Buyer Service System.
First, register or log in. Next, complete your company and personal information and follow the current badge application instructions. Invitations and collection arrangements are available through the organiser’s official process.
Do I need a visa to attend?
It depends on your nationality, passport, visit purpose, planned stay and current entry policies.
Check the applicable requirements with official authorities before booking non-refundable travel. An exhibition or supplier invitation does not guarantee entry approval.
Can I visit furniture factories during the fair?
You can arrange factory visits directly with suppliers, subject to their availability.
The gaps between phases may provide convenient time. However, confirm the production-site address, technical meeting agenda and travel arrangements before departure.
How many days should I spend at the fair?
Plan around your sourcing scope and supplier appointments.
A focused furniture visit may need several exhibition days and a factory meeting. A broader project may require more time, especially if it spans multiple phases.
What should I bring as a furniture buyer?
Bring a written product list, quantities, drawings, material references, delivery destination and target installation period.
In addition, prepare questions about MOQ, samples, inspections, packaging, warranty and the proposed delivery term.
Turn the Fair Visit Into a Procurement Plan
The Canton Fair is most useful when buyers arrive with a clear scope and a shortlist.
First, select the phase that matches your products. Next, complete official registration and confirm supplier appointments. Then, use the exhibition to review materials, product details and project suitability.
After the fair, compare quotations on the same scope and complete the necessary samples, documents and factory checks.
To discuss your project with HONGYE, send your product list, quantities, drawings and delivery destination through the company’s contact page. Request confirmed meeting or factory-visit information before finalising your itinerary.
