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The 139th Canton Fair: A Hub of Innovation and Trade

The 139th China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, is set to kick off on April 15 in Guangzhou and will run until May 5, 2026. This year's fair is distinguished by expanded exhibition space and a stronger emphasis on innovation, marking a significant moment in the global trade calendar.

With a total exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters, this year’s fair will feature 75,700 booths and include participation from over 32,000 enterprises, surpassing previous editions in both scale and diversity. Notably, around 3,900 exhibitors will be joining for the first time, highlighting the Canton Fair’s pivotal role in connecting businesses with international markets and high-quality trade opportunities.

Enhanced Exhibitor Mix and Zones

Reflecting current trends in global trade and industrial development, the Canton Fair has optimized its exhibitor mix and exhibit structure. This year will see an increase in the number of zones, expanding to 179, which includes nine new zones focusing on emerging sectors such as smart wearables, display technologies, consumer drones, prefabricated housing, and courtyard facilities. These additions aggregate around 670 companies and more than 1,300 booths, illustrating a robust response to the ever-changing market landscape.

The fair places a significant emphasis on advanced manufacturing and new productive forces. Over 60% of exhibitors will be showcasing next-generation technologies, including applications in industrial internet, artificial intelligence, 5G solutions, and green, low-carbon production processes. In total, the fair will display more than 4.65 million exhibits, with innovative, environmentally-friendly products constituting a notable portion of the exhibition.

Improved Buyer Services

This year, the Canton Fair will introduce enhanced services aimed at buyers, including a one-stop service center, year-round pre-registration, and a dedicated newsletter tailored for buyers. These innovations are designed for more efficient information delivery and personalized matchmaking between supply and demand, making the fair navigation smoother and the experience overall more enjoyable. For first-time attendees, the Canton Fair promises an optimized journey, from planning attendance and pre-registration to post-fair follow-ups, further supported by the upgraded Canton Fair APP, which now includes 26 functions and 14 new AI application scenarios.

Growing Global Attendance

The trend in global buyer attendance continues to rise in both scale and diversity. As of April 9, more than 210,000 overseas buyers had pre-registered, showing an increase of 20% compared to the previous spring session. Notably, the number of confirmed top sourcing companies grew by 30%, totaling 290. This year also marks a significant participation from buyers in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries, Latin America, and Africa, with specialized buyers making up over 70% of registrations, a first in the fair's history.

The fair has also adapted to accommodate Middle Eastern buyers facing travel limitations, enhancing its hybrid service model which includes online supply-demand matchmaking, social media livestream events, and optimized on-site services for international enterprises operating in China.

Pre-registration for buyers can be completed at Canton Fair Registration.

As the 139th Canton Fair unfolds, it stands as a testament to the dynamic nature of international trade and the concerted efforts to foster global connections and innovative practices across industries.