This is the other half of the trade-show story. The pages above (US, EU, Middle East) cover the shows your buyers walk. This page covers the shows your factory might exhibit at - where international sourcing buyers come to find you.
Most factories start with one show per year. Canton Fair is the default. Adding a second show depends on your vertical and budget.
Status. 2026 dates confirmed live from show organizers' websites. 2027 dates confirmed where published. Booth costs vary by hall and stand size - typically $3,000-$15,000 for a standard booth at Canton Fair.
When (2026): Spring 139th: Apr 15-19 / 23-27 / May 1-5. Fall 140th: Oct 15-19 / 23-27 / Oct 31-Nov 4
Operator: China Foreign Trade Centre
Venue: China Import and Export Fair Complex (Pazhou), Guangzhou
Phases:
Why: Largest B2B sourcing event in the world by attendance (~200k+ buyers per session). The single highest-density concentration of US discount/closeout/off-price sourcing desks anywhere in Asia.
Source: cief.cantonfair.org.cn
When: March 18-21, 2027 (59th edition)
Venue: Canton Fair Complex + Poly World Trade Center, Guangzhou
Scope: Furniture - modern, classic, outdoor, office, kids.
Why: The largest dedicated furniture export fair in mainland China. Right show for furniture-specific factories.
Sister show: CIFF Shanghai Hongqiao (September).
Source: ciff-gz.com
When: March 1-4, 2027 (35th edition)
Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC)
Scope: Light industry + garment textiles. Strong on home textiles, household goods, gifts, small home appliances.
Why: Top China show for soft goods + home goods. Government-backed. Less crowded than Canton Fair; region-focused on East-China factories.
Source: ecf.org.cn
When (2026): September 8-11, 2026 (SNIEC, Shanghai)
Scope: International furniture exhibition.
Best for: furniture factories wanting a focused furniture-only audience.
Sister show: Maison Shanghai (September 7-10, 2026, SWEECC).
Source: furniture-china.cn
When (2026): October 22-25, 2026 (Zhongshan)
Scope: Lighting fixtures, smart-home lighting, accessories, machinery.
Why: The China lighting show. 3,600+ lighting suppliers; 75%+ export overseas. Right show for lighting factories.
Source: gzlightingfair.com
When: Annual (Shanghai)
Scope: Hardware, tools.
Caveat: Direct China counterpart to NHS/Hardlines Supplier Event. Dates need verification.
Source: hardwarefair.com.cn
When: Historically late October
Venue: Yiwu, Zhejiang
Scope: Small commodities - broad mix of consumer goods, hardware, tools, toys, gifts, stationery.
Best for: very-low-MOQ closeout-style sourcing. Smaller US importers and discount-chain sourcing scouts walk this show.
Source: en.yiwufair.com
When: Historically late October
Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Scope: 3,000+ Asian suppliers, broad consumer goods mix.
Why: HK-based, Asia-wide supplier aggregation. Useful for factories wanting one trip, many countries.
Source: mega-show.com
Scope: Gifts, premiums. Adjacent to home goods but more lifestyle-focused.
Source: hktdc.com
Three rules of thumb for first-time China exporters:
We walk the floors of Canton Fair, CIFF, Furniture China, and ECF each year. If you're exhibiting at one of these shows, let us know - we can introduce you to US/EU buyer desks walking the same halls.
If you can't afford a booth yet, we can also recommend the right international buyers (US discount, EU retail, MENA importers) to approach based on what we've seen walking the floors in past years.