The 57th edition of CIFF Guangzhou has reached a new scale, occupying 90 exhibition halls across two phases and covering 850,000 square metres, with more than 5,100 brands participating.
For anyone interested in design and contemporary living, the fair has become far more than a furniture exhibition. It is a place where industry shifts, design ideas and lifestyle trends appear simultaneously.
Every March, designers, architects, brands and buyers from around the world gather in Guangzhou, moving between the Canton Fair Complex and the Poly World Trade Expo Center.
This guide highlights the key zones worth stopping for during the show.
01 Contemporary Design Exhibition
If there is one place to glimpse the future of Chinese design, it is the Contemporary Design Exhibition.
Spanning 40,000 square metres, the section brings together over 60 commercial design brands, 20 independent designer labels and 60 international studios, including Camerich, HC28 maison and Neodiko.
Together they form a landscape where commercial design and experimental ideas coexist.
Several curated programmes shape the exhibition.
CMF Trend LAB
This research-led section focuses on colour, material and finish, presenting future directions through material samples, installations and trend studies.
Design United – Miniature Nations
European brands including Technogym, Gandia Blasco, Lumina, Nemo and Gervasoni explore design through the lens of historical civilisations.
Five immersive environments reinterpret aesthetics from Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Viking era and Spain’s Golden Age.
Design Dim Sum – Design in Practice
Featuring brands such as Gervasoni, Dedar, Slide, Nemo Lighting, FontanaArte, Established & Sons and USM, the exhibition examines how design prototypes evolve into mass-produced products through engineering and standardisation.
Design Export – Voyage with Roots
This programme explores the globalisation of Chinese design, addressing cultural translation and industrial collaboration through brands such as Dakhaan, Atelier Changphel, Guolulu Studio and INSTEEL.
Intangible Heritage Craft Exhibition
Sixteen national-level heritage crafts are presented through a contemporary lens.
From bamboo weaving and lacquerwork to embroidery and ceramics, the exhibition highlights how traditional techniques are reinterpreted within modern design culture.
02 SOFA PLUS
Located in Hall 9.3–11.3 on the third floor of Area B, SOFA PLUS is one of the busiest sections of the fair.
Covering 130,000 square metres, the zone gathers a dense concentration of upholstery brands, offering a comprehensive overview of the sofa market – from design-led pieces to functional recliner systems.
More than 50 curated display windows present sofas within staged living environments, including home cinema lounges, social living rooms and flexible spaces designed for compact urban apartments.
Nearby, the Smart Sleep Ecosystem Pavilion in Hall 5.2 explores the growing intersection of sleep technology and home living. Products range from smart mattresses and sleep monitoring systems to massage chairs and multifunctional sofas.
03 Dining and Living Room Furniture
Stretching across Area E of the Poly World Trade Expo Center and Area C of the Canton Fair Complex, this section spans 120,000 square metres.
It gathers manufacturers from over 150 counties across China and more than 800 companies, showcasing the country’s extensive production capacity in dining and living room furniture.
Two specialised halls have been introduced this year:
Hall E1 – Dining Design Hall and Hall 15.2 – Living Room Design Hall.
Together they feature 45 high-end manufacturers, presenting advances in materials, manufacturing techniques and product design.
04 Outdoor Living
Located at Hall 12.1 (B13 and the AB platform area), the Outdoor Living section has become one of the fastest-growing zones within the Home Furniture exhibition.
Covering 50,000 square metres, the area presents outdoor furniture, shading systems, grills, camping equipment and accessories.
Under the theme “Innovation”, brands construct immersive settings such as patios, terraces and camping environments to demonstrate new possibilities in outdoor design.
The zone also hosts the special exhibition “Nature’s Echo – Co-Grow”, which explores outdoor living through installations and product displays inspired by nature.
05 Home Decor and Textiles
This 60,000-square-metre section focuses on decorative objects, textiles and soft-furnishing design.
Under the theme “Breakthrough”, the exhibition highlights cultural expression, sustainable design and craft innovation.
Materials such as ceramics, glass and textiles are presented through contemporary interpretations, reflecting new directions in China’s soft-furnishing design landscape.
The section also introduces the East Design Show, curated by designer Zhu Xiaojie. Titled “Design in Ambiance”, the exhibition creates immersive domestic environments that explore how design shapes everyday living.
06 Emerging Lifestyle Zones
CIFF has also expanded into new lifestyle territories.
The Healthy Ageing Theme Exhibition in Hall 18.2 (Area D) covers around 8,000 square metres, presenting products ranging from smart mattresses to fall-prevention systems and ergonomic furniture. Curated programmes such as “The Remarkable Home” and “No Compromise” explore ageing-friendly living environments.
Another new section is Pets & Pal Living in Hall 19.2, which responds to the rise of pet-inclusive households. Furniture, smart devices and accessories are presented as part of integrated human-pet living spaces.
07 Office and Commercial Spaces
The second phase of CIFF focuses on office and commercial environments, with sustainability as its central theme.
The exhibition is organised into three sections: office environments, office seating and public commercial spaces, showcasing applications ranging from smart office systems and ergonomic chairs to furniture for schools, healthcare and hospitality.
Curated programmes provide additional perspectives. CIFF Luminous Path explores sustainable materials and supply-chain innovation, while Linking Design Star focuses on collaboration between designers and industry.
Meanwhile, the D&A Culture Center and the Guangzhou Office Environment Pavilion examine office design through cultural narratives and spatial experimentation.
08 CIFM / interzum Guangzhou
Running alongside the furniture exhibition, CIFM / interzum Guangzhou focuses on production technology and supply chains.
The machinery section presents advanced manufacturing solutions and automation systems for furniture production, while the Global Premiere Event introduces newly launched equipment and technologies.
Materials and components are also a major focus. The accessories section showcases CMF surface design, innovative materials and functional upgrades, while the hardware exhibition highlights developments in smart fittings and integrated hardware systems.
Spanning design experimentation, large-scale manufacturing and emerging lifestyles, CIFF Guangzhou offers a rare opportunity to observe the furniture industry in its entirety.
For visitors willing to explore its vast halls, the next idea shaping future living might appear in the most unexpected corner of the fair.
Click the image to explore CIFF Guangzhou this March:
