NolynNolyn

Canton Fair 2026 toy and gift trends: what store buyers should stock for the holidays and spring (November 2026)

· Nolyn research team

What toys and gifts stood out at Canton Fair 2026?

At the 140th Canton Fair, which closed on November 4, 2026, AI plush and AI companion figures came up most in the reports we read. The organizer's own summary pointed to bag charms, weighted animal cushions and 3D stickers. One exhibitor said its orders were booked through the end of December. In Japan, plush sales reached ¥62.4 billion in fiscal 2025 (up 38.2%, preliminary). No report gave product prices; on 1688 the median bag charm was 1.94 yuan on October 24, 2026.

This page is for store owners and retail buyers at variety, gift and toy chains. It is not a gift guide or a list of toys to buy for your kids. We read the official fair material and Chinese trade and news coverage of the 2026 autumn fair, as of November 5, 2026, to answer one question: what should go on your shelves for the holidays and for spring? What the sources say and what we infer are kept apart. Our own inferences are labeled.

Run it for your own product or account

Sign in to run it. New accounts get 100 free credits; research uses credits for AI and data lookups.

Check this trend for your stores

Name a product and Nolyn compares 1688 wholesale prices and minimum orders with current Amazon prices and reviews. Sign-in required; new accounts get 100 credits.

Sign in to run it. New accounts get 100 free credits; research uses credits for AI and data lookups.

Canton Fair 2026 dates and size: toys in Phase 3, gifts in Phase 2

The 140th Canton Fair ran from October 15 to November 4, 2026, in three phases. Toys were in Phase 3 (October 31 to November 4). Gifts and Premiums, Festival Products and Home Decorations were in Phase 2 (October 23 to 27). Buyers who want both have to attend two phases.

Across the fair, 32,000 companies exhibited 4.88 million products, 23.2% of them new. It drew 352,000 overseas buyers from 219 countries and regions, up 12.2% from the same point last session. Reports counted more than 230,000 AI products.

PhaseDatesRelevant sectionsSize
Phase 2, "Quality Home"Oct 23–27Gifts and Premiums, Festival Products, Home Decorations, Household Items515,000 m², about 11,000 exhibitors, 2.376 million products (24.2% new, 25.0% own IP), 178 launch events
Phase 3, "Better Life"Oct 31–Nov 4Toys, Baby and Maternity, Office Supplies, Cases and Bags, Pet Products515,000 m², 25,000 booths, 12,000+ exhibitors, 5 sectors and 21 zones

The two phases that matter for toys and gifts (official material and closing reports, checked November 5, 2026)

7 toy and gift trends reported at the fair in autumn 2026

The table runs from best to weakest support. Everything here is what exhibitors or the organizer said, not sales statistics. The strength rating is our judgment.

TrendWhat was reportedSourceStrength of evidence
AI plush and companion figuresShenzhen Xinditai Electronics showed an AI panda and AI cat that talk, show emotion through LED eyes and support more than 60 languages. It said several buyers ordered at this fair, orders run to the end of December, and US and European clients have ordered tens of thousands of units. Dongguan Junou showed third-generation AI plush. Dongguan Chaobang showed an AI figure that works as a desk ornament or backpack charm, and reported talks on a large order with a New Zealand toy companyChina News Service, Nov 1 and Nov 4Strong (3 named firms, but exhibitors' own statements)
Bag charmsBag charms in many designs were everywhere in the toy sectionOrganizer release, Nov 4Medium (organizer's description, no figures)
Cultural IP designer toysGuangdong Hayidai Toys said buyers are moving from low-price custom orders toward quality products that show IP. Overseas buyers asked about zodiac, tangyuan and panda themesYangcheng Pai, Nov 4Medium (one exhibitor)
Comfort cushionsAnimal-shaped sofa cushions filled with weighted glass beads for a hug-like feelOrganizer release, Nov 4Weak (one product)
Playful stationery and 3D stickersPens chosen for looks, cute staplers, glue-free 3D stickers that work as puzzlesOrganizer release, Nov 4Weak (mention only)
Moving infant toysA duck toy for ages 6 to 36 months with head-turning, waddling, lights, sound, voice guidance, learning and bedtime modes; drew overseas buyer interestOrganizer release, Nov 4Weak (one product)
Pet playCat climbing structures and interactive automatic toysOrganizer release, Nov 4Weak (mention only)

Toys and gifts reported at the 140th Canton Fair (coverage from October 23 to November 4, 2026)

Gifts: what Phase 2 coverage does and does not show

China News Service reported overseas buyers asking prices and negotiating in the Gifts and Premiums zone on October 25, but it named no products. Coverage alone cannot tell you which gifts led this session.

The Phase 2 products reports did name were a thermos cup with a magnetic one-hand lid and a porous towel that cools when wet (CCTV, October 23). The fair's own souvenir shops sold out of horse-themed items and added a glasses-free 3D badge (Guangzhou Daily, October 27). Those are fair souvenirs, not exhibitor orders.

What to stock for the holidays and spring (our view)

From here on, this is our inference. One exhibitor says it is booked through December, so assume a new order placed at the fair will miss this holiday season. Use goods already in your country or ready-made stock for the holidays, and treat what you saw at the fair as spring and later.

Japan gives a useful demand check. The Japan Toy Association put the domestic toy market at ¥1,166.4 billion in fiscal 2025 (preliminary), up 6.3%. Plush rose from ¥45.1 billion to ¥62.4 billion (up 38.2%), and high-tech toys, including interactive toys and robots, from ¥18.3 billion to ¥21.2 billion (up 15.5%). In the US, TikTok Shop's top stuffed animal listing showed 26,466 sold at $20.21 on November 1, 2026. Plush and charms are where the fair's talk and retail numbers point the same way.

The fair does not show everything that sells. Squishy toys were among the most-watched products on TikTok Japan from October 25 to November 1, yet the reports we read never mention them.

ProductHolidaysSpringWhy
Bag charms and plush charmsSmall test from ready-made stockAdd colors if the test sellsFair coverage and retail data agree; low unit cost, small lots
Playful stationery and stickersSmall test from ready-made stockTest for back-to-school where it falls in springLow unit cost, easy to rotate
AI plushSkipOne or two models, only after compliance and safety checksMost coverage, but radio, battery, content and data checks are needed
Cultural IP designer toysSkipSample only themes your customers knowInterest was reported from overseas buyers overall, not your market
Weighted cushionsSkipSample, and check weight and freightOne product report; weight drives landed cost
Infant toys and automatic pet toysSkipOnly with an import and testing setupInfant toys carry the heaviest rules; powered goods need case-by-case checks

Holiday and spring stocking calls (our view, as of November 5, 2026)

Price bands: no prices in fair coverage, so use 1688 and shelf prices

None of the reports or releases we read gave a product price. As a floor, we use Nolyn's own 1688 sample from October 24, 2026. These are ready-made goods from China's domestic wholesale site, not quotes from fair exhibitors, and they exclude agent fees, freight and duty.

TonySourcing, a sourcing agent, gives rough FOB guides with no stated basis: plush and fabric toys $1.50–8 at 500–1,000 pieces per design, light-up and sound toys $1–6 at 1,000–3,000 pieces. We found no published price for AI plush, so get quotes.

For shelf prices, a licensed Bruna Bonbon bag charm from IDES launched in Japan at ¥1,980 including tax on October 3, 2026. Chinese coverage from August 2025 put bag charms at about 10 yuan for budget items, about 100 yuan mid-range and over 1,000 yuan for popular character collaborations.

Product1688 keywordMedian priceListings sold from 1–2 pieces
Bag charms包包挂件1.94 yuan25 / 33
Plush keychains毛绒公仔挂件2.67 yuan22 / 31
Journal stickers手账贴纸1.86 yuan25 / 37
Novelty stationery创意文具1.30 yuan24 / 35
Squishy toys (for reference)捏捏乐3.00 yuan21 / 26

Median 1688 wholesale prices (60 listings per keyword, October 24, 2026)

What to check first: AI toys, children's rules and licensed goods

AI plush needs more checks than ordinary plush. PIRG, a US consumer group, tested four AI toys and reported that a plush bear called Kumma discussed inappropriate topics with children. Packaging for another product said data might be shared with third-party developers and advertising partners (The National, December 22, 2025). Before ordering, get in writing where the toy connects, what it records and what parental controls exist.

In the US, the importer must meet ASTM F963, test toys for children 12 and under at a CPSC-accepted lab, issue a Children's Product Certificate and apply tracking labels (CPSC). In Japan, importers and sellers have a duty to try not to import or sell radio equipment that fails technical standards (MIC guideline), importers selling lithium-ion batteries must show the PSE mark (FDMA), and infant toys can require an import notification (MHLW, JETRO).

Character and brand goods without a license are prohibited imports in Japan (Customs). Do not buy IP toys or charms unless you can confirm the rights holder's permission.

What to watch next, and the limits of this page

We could not confirm official dates for the 141st fair as of November 5, 2026. A third-party listing shows April 15 to May 5, 2027, with Phase 3 on May 1–5. If that holds, toys at the fair come too late for spring shelves, so spring orders run through contacts from this session or local wholesalers (our inference). TonySourcing lists the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair for January 11–14, 2027; confirm with the organizer.

Limits: we found no order values for toys or gifts and no figures on Japanese buyers. We also found no public walk-through video of the Phase 3 toy halls or reliable social posts to cite, so none appear here. Most evidence comes from Chinese news and the organizer, which leans toward what exhibitors want to show.

How to check a trend for your own stores

  1. Turn the trend into a product name

    Pick a specific term such as AI plush or bag charm, plus its Chinese search term.

  2. Check shelf prices and competition

    Look at what sells on Amazon in your market, at what price, with how many reviews.

  3. Check wholesale price and minimum order

    Look up ready-made stock on 1688 or local wholesalers, add freight and duty, and see if your margin holds.

  4. Check the rules, then sample

    Confirm radio, battery, age grading and licensing, then order a small sample.

Questions

The autumn session, the 140th fair, ran October 15 to November 4, 2026: Phase 1 on October 15–19, Phase 2 on October 23–27 and Phase 3 on October 31 to November 4. It has closed.

Toys, baby products, office supplies and pet products were in Phase 3. Gifts and Premiums, Festival Products and Home Decorations were in Phase 2.

Do not count on it. One exhibitor reported orders booked through the end of December. Use stock already in your country or ready-made goods for the holidays, and plan new orders for spring and later (our inference).

It depends on the model. Check radio and battery rules for your market, what the toy says to children, what it records and where the data goes. Ask for test reports rather than relying on booth claims.

At this fair, AI plush and companion figures, bag charms and cultural IP designer toys got the most attention. For what sells to US consumers, see our Amazon and TikTok Shop data page, which is based on listings rather than fair coverage.

Official dates for the 141st fair were not confirmed as of November 5, 2026. A third-party listing shows April 15 to May 5, 2027. Check the official site before you book.

Sources

Sourcing and trends (buyers and shops)

All guides

Guide

How to find a supplier for your products in 2026

Use US wholesalers or trade shows for small orders, Alibaba.com or 1688 for factory prices. 56% of priced 1688 listings we checked start at 1 piece.

Research example

Consumer trends 2026

Consumer trends 2026 from sales data: units that 86 TikTok Shop US listings added from October 25 to November 1, compared with October 20–25. Shapewear led.

Research example

Trending pet products, November 2026

Trending pet products, November 2026: 10 Amazon US pet best-seller lists (474 products) and TikTok Shop US, with price bands and new listings climbing.

Research example

Best selling candles, November 2026

Best selling candles on Amazon US on November 1, 2026: the top 50 by type, price and scent, plus monthly sales badges and what candles cost to buy wholesale.

Research example

Trending keychains, stickers and bag charms, November 2026

Trending keychains, stickers and bag charms in November 2026: 100 Amazon US best sellers and TikTok Shop US sticker listings, with prices and buy costs.

Comparison

Sites like Alibaba in 2026

8 Alibaba alternatives checked on their own sites on Oct 30, 2026: buyer fees, minimum orders and protection, plus 1688 vs US prices for 9 product types.