China Toy Expo (CTE) 2026

Dates
Venue
Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC)
Industry
Toys & Baby
Official website
www.toy-expo.com

China Toy Expo (CTE) takes place at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) in Shanghai from 19 October to 21 October 2026. Toys, games, baby products and licensing.

What the fair covers

Toys, games and products for babies and young children are the focus. Toys, games, baby products and licensing. That shapes both the exhibitor mix and the questions worth preparing before you arrive.

Dates, venue and getting there

The fair runs from 19 October to 21 October 2026 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) in Shanghai. It runs for 3 days, which is short, so deciding which halls to prioritise before arriving makes a difference. Shanghai hosts more international trade fairs than any other city in China, and its two main venues sit on opposite sides of the city. Check which one your fair uses before booking a hotel, because crossing Shanghai in exhibition traffic can take well over an hour. The metro is extensive and almost always faster than a taxi during fair weeks.

Planning your visit

Consumer product buying is physical. Handling the item, checking the finish under exhibition lighting and comparing two similar pieces side by side are things a catalogue cannot replace. Most buyers work a shortlist of halls, collect samples, and use the fair to narrow a long supplier list to a few worth visiting at their factories. For China Toy Expo (CTE), that means preparing ahead of the October dates and arriving with a target list of stands.

Language and interpreting support

Most exhibitors are Chinese manufacturers, and while larger stands often have English speaking sales staff, that is not something to rely on across a whole venue. English tends to run out exactly where it matters most, once a conversation moves to specifications, tolerances, materials and pricing terms. Buyers working with an interpreter generally cover more ground in a day, because they can negotiate directly rather than through a phone app. An interpreter already working in Shanghai saves further time simply by knowing the venue and how to move around it.

After the fair

Consumer goods are where sample and production quality diverge most often. Colour can shift between batches, materials can be substituted, and finish quality varies with the production line rather than the factory. Ask for samples drawn from the actual production run, and arrange an inspection during production or before shipment on a first order.

Frequently asked questions

When and where does China Toy Expo (CTE) take place?

It runs from 19 October to 21 October 2026 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) in Shanghai. Confirm the dates against the organiser's official site before booking travel.

What is shown at the fair?

Toys, games and products for babies and young children are the focus. Toys, games, baby products and licensing.

How much time should I allow?

It runs for 3 days, which is short, so deciding which halls to prioritise before arriving makes a difference. Planning a route through the halls in advance makes a noticeable difference to how much you get done.

Will I need an interpreter?

Most exhibitors are Chinese manufacturers, and while larger stands often have English speaking sales staff, that is not something to rely on across a whole venue. English tends to run out exactly where it matters most, once a conversation moves to specifications, tolerances, materials and pricing terms. Buyers working with an interpreter generally cover more ground in a day, because they can negotiate directly rather than through a phone app.

What happens after the fair?

Consumer goods are where sample and production quality diverge most often. Colour can shift between batches, materials can be substituted, and finish quality varies with the production line rather than the factory. Ask for samples drawn from the actual production run, and arrange an inspection during production or before shipment on a first order.

Where do I find official information and registration?

The organiser's official site (www.toy-expo.com) is the primary source for dates, visitor registration and the exhibitor list. Registering before you travel is worth doing, as it saves queueing at the counters on the first day.