Canton Fair Spring vs Autumn: What Is the Difference?

The biggest difference between the Spring and Autumn Canton Fairs is their timing. The Spring Canton Fair typically starts in mid-April, while the Autumn Canton Fair usually begins in mid-October. Both sessions are officially known as the China Import and Export Fair, take place in Guangzhou, and are divided into Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3. For overseas buyers, Spring and Autumn are not two distinct types of exhibitions; choosing which one to attend depends primarily on your procurement cycle and project schedule.

Different Fair Dates

The Spring Canton Fair is generally held from April to May.

Taking the 139th Canton Fair in 2026 as an example: Phase 1 runs from April 15 to 19, Phase 2 from April 23 to 27, and Phase 3 from May 1 to 5.

The Autumn Canton Fair typically begins in mid-October and lasts until early November. For the 140th Canton Fair in 2026: Phase 1 runs from October 15 to 19, Phase 2 from October 23 to 27, and Phase 3 from October 31 to November 4.

Consequently, the two sessions are about six months apart. Overseas buyers who miss the Spring session usually do not have to wait until the following year, as the Autumn session offers another complete procurement opportunity.

Basically Identical Phase Structures

The Spring and Autumn sessions are not divided by different industry sectors.

Under the current layout of the Canton Fair, both sessions feature three phases. Phase 1 focuses primarily on industrial manufacturing, machinery, electrical and electronics, vehicles, new energy, lighting, hardware, and tools. Phase 2 features home goods, gifts and decorations, building and decorative materials, sanitary ware, and furniture. Phase 3 highlights apparel, textiles, shoes and bags, office supplies, medical and healthcare products, food, and other consumer goods.

Therefore, it is incorrect to assume that "Spring is for machinery, while Autumn is for furniture."

If you are sourcing construction machinery, you should focus on Phase 1 whether you attend in Spring or Autumn. If you are sourcing furniture, building materials, and sanitary ware, your focus should remain on Phase 2.

Specific exhibition zones should always be verified against the official announcements for each session.

The Real Difference Lies in the Procurement Cycle

For corporate procurement, the most significant practical difference between Spring and Autumn is that they align with different purchasing checkpoints during the year.

The Spring Fair is ideal for companies preparing to advance procurement mid-year or in the second half of the year. Buyers visiting China in April still have ample time for factory audits, quotation comparisons, sample approvals, contract negotiations, and production scheduling.

For instance, if a project aims to finalize key material suppliers in the third quarter, attending the Spring Canton Fair leaves sufficient time for subsequent sourcing steps.

Conversely, the Autumn Fair is better suited for businesses planning year-end procurement or setting procurement budgets for the upcoming year.

Many companies confirm suppliers, product lines, or equipment budgets for the next year during the third and fourth quarters. If your purchasing decisions are concentrated in this period, the timing of the Autumn Canton Fair aligns more seamlessly with internal schedules.

Exhibitors and Products May Change

Although the industry categories and phase structures remain consistent across both sessions, specific exhibitors, booth locations, and on-site product displays are not guaranteed to be identical.

Some manufacturers participate in both sessions, whereas others attend only one. Even for the same factory, they may showcase new models, designs, materials, or product lines six months later.

Thus, for importers who source regularly from China, having attended the Spring session does not mean there are no new suppliers to discover in Autumn.

However, for a one-off procurement project, there is no need to visit China twice just to see both sessions.

Choose Based on Your Project Timeline

Neither the Spring nor the Autumn session is inherently "better."

The critical factor to evaluate is how much time remains between attending the Canton Fair and the actual project delivery date.

Procuring machinery may involve technical verification, production, testing, and shipping. Furniture and building material projects may require sample selection, drawing refinements, manufacturing, quality inspection, and multi-supplier consolidation. If your delivery timeline is tight, you should attend the session closest to the start of your sourcing process.

For example, if your project sourcing starts early next year, the Autumn Canton Fair is ideal for screening suppliers in advance. If your project requires production to start in the second half of the current year, the Spring session is typically much more suitable.

In summary, the Spring and Autumn Canton Fairs are essentially two time slots for the same exhibition throughout the year. Their core industries and phase structures are basically identical. The main differences are the event dates and whether those dates align with your corporate purchasing schedule. Overseas buyers do not need to compare which session is larger; choosing according to your project and order timeline is far more practical.