CIFF Shanghai — China International Furniture Fair 2026

Dates
Venue
National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), Hongqiao
City
Shanghai, China
Industry
Furniture
Official website
en.ciff-sh.com

CIFF Shanghai, the China International Furniture Fair, covers home, office and commercial furniture along with decor and design. It takes place at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Hongqiao, Shanghai, from 5 to 8 September 2026.

What the fair covers

CIFF Shanghai is organised around furniture in its broadest sense: residential furniture for living rooms, bedrooms and dining spaces, office and contract furniture, commercial fit out, and the decor and design products that sit alongside them. For a buyer this breadth is useful, because sourcing a furniture range usually means dealing with several different manufacturing specialisms at once. Upholstery, case goods, metal frames and finishing are rarely all handled by the same factory, and a fair that puts them in one venue shortens the search considerably.

Dates, venue and getting there

The fair runs from 5 to 8 September 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Hongqiao, Shanghai. Hongqiao is on the western side of the city and is well connected by metro, which is usually faster than road transport during exhibition weeks. The venue sits close to Hongqiao railway station and Hongqiao airport, so buyers arriving from other Chinese cities can often reach the halls without crossing Shanghai. Staying near Hongqiao rather than in the city centre saves a significant amount of daily travel time.

What visitors do at the fair

Furniture buying is a physical process, and that is the main reason this fair justifies the trip. Sitting on the upholstery, opening the drawer runners, checking the finish under exhibition lighting and comparing two similar pieces side by side are things a catalogue cannot replace. Most buyers work through a shortlist of halls rather than walking the whole venue, collect samples and specification sheets, and use the fair to narrow a long supplier list down to a handful worth visiting at their factories afterwards.

Language and interpreting support

Furniture sourcing runs into vocabulary quickly. Frame materials, foam densities, finish types, packing methods and container loading all have specific terminology, and small misunderstandings here turn into expensive errors later. Larger exhibitors often have English speaking staff, but coverage varies by hall. Buyers working with an interpreter tend to get more precise answers on specifications, and can hold a proper negotiation about price breaks and minimum order quantities rather than an approximate one.

After the fair

Furniture is bulky, which makes the logistics side of the decision as important as the product itself. Container loading efficiency, packing quality and protection during transit all affect the final landed cost, sometimes more than the unit price does. Buyers commonly arrange a factory visit and a container loading inspection before their first shipment from a new supplier, since damage in transit is a common and avoidable problem with furniture specifically.

Frequently asked questions

When and where does CIFF Shanghai take place?

From 5 to 8 September 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Hongqiao, Shanghai. The venue is on the western side of the city, close to Hongqiao railway station and Hongqiao airport.

What kinds of furniture are shown?

The fair covers home furniture, office and contract furniture, commercial fit out, and related decor and design products. That breadth is useful when a single furniture range needs several manufacturing specialisms that rarely sit in one factory.

Where should I stay?

Staying near Hongqiao rather than central Shanghai usually saves a meaningful amount of travel time each day. The area is well served by metro, which tends to be faster than road transport during exhibition weeks.

Do I need an interpreter?

Coverage of English varies by hall. Furniture sourcing involves specific vocabulary around frame materials, foam densities, finishes and packing, and this is where imprecise communication becomes costly. An interpreter helps most in the technical and pricing parts of the conversation.

What should I plan for after the fair?

Furniture is bulky, so container loading efficiency and packing quality affect landed cost as much as unit price. A factory visit and a container loading inspection before the first shipment from a new supplier are common precautions.