China Franchise Expo Shanghai 2026

About the fair

Founded in 1999, the China Franchise Expo is organized by the CCFA, whose 1,000+ member enterprises span franchising specialists and domestic and multinational retailers and suppliers. Each year the CCFA publishes a report on China's top 100 franchise chains and helps develop and implement franchising standards. Over two decades of change in the Chinese market, the expo — through professional exhibition work and a precise yet efficient matching of supply and demand — has grown into one of the world's largest franchise exhibitions, with the longest history and the richest local resources. Its total exhibition area has reached up to 140,000 sq m over the year. Highlights include franchise investment lectures.

Planning the trip

• Register the badge online. Every major fair issues visitor badges in advance, and on-site registration means queueing on the busiest morning of the show. Registration usually opens one to two months out.
• Check the visa position early. China's entry rules have changed repeatedly in recent years, including visa-free arrangements for a growing list of countries and transit exemptions. Confirm what applies to your passport for this month, and ask the organiser for an invitation letter if a business visa is needed — issuing one is routine.
• Book accommodation before the dates firm up. A large fair fills its host city and rates move accordingly. Cancellable bookings made early cost less than confirmed ones made late.
• Decide which halls before you arrive. The bigger Chinese fairs run to several halls across separate phases, and walking them without a plan burns a day. Shortlist the stands you need and treat anything else as a bonus.
• Plan the follow-up, not just the visit. Business cards collected at a fair convert poorly once you fly home: quotes arrive in patchy English, samples stall, and the time difference eats a day per exchange. Deciding who handles that before you travel is what makes the trip pay for itself.