The 16th China International Animation Copyright Fair to Open in Dongguan in August
Dongguan, Guangdong, China, July 24, 2026 – Steven Zhao, Canada & World Report – The 16th China International Animation Copyright Fair to Open in Dongguan in August will be held from August 6 to 10 at the China Toy Capital Animation Expo Center in Shipai Town, Dongguan, bringing together global intellectual property, animation, designer toys, digital technology, manufacturing and cultural tourism.
Details of the five-day event were announced at a press conference on July 24. Under the theme “Integration Without Boundaries,” this year’s expo will cover 33,100 square metres, an increase of 25 percent from the previous edition. More than 500 companies and organizations will participate, presenting over 2,200 high-quality IP properties from China and abroad.
The fair is designed to connect IP development, technology, manufacturing and cultural tourism, positioning itself as both a major industry platform and a cultural celebration for the animation and designer-toy sectors.
Building a year-round platform for the designer-toy industry
This year’s fair will further develop its “professional exhibition plus industrial town” model and support the coordinated growth of Dongguan’s 112.2-square-kilometre designer-toy and cultural tourism zone.
The 130,000-square-metre fair center integrates exhibition, production and sales facilities. It provides a full range of industry services, including product selection, AI-assisted prototyping, talent development and overseas market support. Building on the traditional exhibition model, the center is establishing a long-term operating system combining a five-day annual fair with year-round industry services.
A special investment promotion conference for the Dongguan designer-toy and cultural tourism zone will be held during the fair, inviting international and domestic businesses specializing in IP incubation, designer-toy design and cultural tourism operations to establish projects in the city.
Overseas buyers, industry experts and business representatives will also have opportunities to visit Dongguan’s complete industrial supply chain, covering original design, precision mould-making, flexible mass production and cross-border distribution. The program is intended to connect negotiations at exhibition booths directly with visits to local factories.
Based on preliminary research into the needs of upstream and downstream companies, the fair will host more than 10 industry matchmaking events covering areas such as IP licensing and cross-border e-commerce. New product launches will also be held to strengthen Dongguan’s role as a venue for product debuts.
China’s first technical trade evaluation center dedicated to designer-toy products will be established in Dongguan. Supported by customs services, the center will help local companies navigate international trade requirements and enter overseas markets. Municipal and township authorities have also introduced a range of policies to support the industry’s long-term development.
Connecting international resources with Chinese IP
The fair will serve as a two-way platform connecting international industry resources with Chinese IP seeking access to global markets.
International participation has increased significantly this year. Ninety-eight companies will showcase globally recognized properties including Disney, Pokémon, Garfield and Astro Boy. Popular Chinese IP such as Nailoong, GG Bond, A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality and Link Click will also be presented, alongside cultural properties inspired by Dunhuang and Sanxingdui.
The diverse lineup is expected to encourage deeper interaction between international creative trends and China’s animation, cultural heritage and designer-toy industries.
For the first time, the fair has formed a strategic partnership with the International Animated Film Association. Organizers previously promoted the event at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. During the Dongguan fair, more than 40 award-winning animated films from leading international festivals, including Annecy and Cannes, will be screened.
More than 100 prominent industry figures are expected to attend, including former International Animated Film Association president Abi Feijó and leading European stop-motion animation filmmaker Ülo Pikkov. They will discuss emerging trends and developments across the global animation industry.
The fair will also work with the China-Arab Multilateral Cooperation Center, foreign consulates in Guangzhou and buyers connected with the Canton Fair to organize dedicated cross-border procurement sessions. Its cloud platform and online designer-toy center will provide ongoing digital matchmaking services to help Chinese animation and designer-toy brands expand overseas.
Promoting new opportunities through “animation plus”
With animation and designer toys at its core, the fair will connect creative production with digital technology, cultural heritage, trade and consumer industries.
A dedicated Smart Animation Digital Integration zone will present advances in AI-assisted animation, virtual digital characters, virtual reality interaction and intelligent manufacturing. Several innovative digital products will make their public debut at the event.
Two specialized AI industry matchmaking sessions will offer digital solutions covering design, production, licensing and sales, while connecting technology companies with Dongguan’s manufacturing businesses.
A cultural heritage section will explore how traditional cultural resources, including Dunhuang and Sanxingdui, can be transformed into designer-toy products appealing to younger consumers. The IP Industry Integration Hall will bring together approximately 1,000 Chinese and international IP properties, creating opportunities for cooperation with the fashion, home furnishing, food and other consumer sectors.
These initiatives are intended to help manufacturers pursue branded, fashionable and intelligent development while creating more high-quality products driven by design and technological innovation.
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Animation Film Week will take place alongside the fair. Its program will include producer training, project pitching, an animation film night, public-interest screenings and touring exhibitions of animation created by university students. Organizers aim to develop it into a nationally influential platform for animation exchange and business transactions in the Greater Bay Area.
A summer celebration open to the public
While maintaining its focus on professional trade and industry cooperation, the fair will offer an extensive program of cultural, tourism and entertainment activities for the public.
Under the theme “Boundless Animation Journey: A Summer of Designer Toys,” the fair will feature dozens of immersive events, including mecha parades, a debut performance combining a robot band with an animation symphony, esports competitions, in-person autograph sessions and a large-scale parade celebrating Chinese-style animation and designer toys.
Admission to the fair and its public activities will be free.
Throughout August, cultural and tourism attractions across Dongguan will participate in a citywide program centered on three major venues: the main fair site at the Shipai Animation Copyright Fair Center, an animation and designer-toy exhibition at the Dongguan Exhibition Center, and a carnival at Minying International Trade Center.
Towns and subdistricts across the city will organize related activities, including designer-toy music parties, intangible cultural heritage and plush-toy performances, and summer esports competitions.
Dongguan will also introduce themed travel routes encouraging visitors to explore the city through the fair. The itineraries will connect designer-toy factories and educational tours with ancient villages and other cultural attractions, integrating the event with tourism, shopping and leisure.
Special summer benefits will be available throughout the city. Service and promotional points will be established at high-speed railway stations and the fair venue. Dongguan roast goose, traditional snow biscuits and other local specialties will be featured in IP-branded products, while dedicated bus services will connect visitors with key locations.
Visitors presenting fair admission credentials will also be eligible for special offers at participating tourist attractions, hotels and restaurants.
The China International Animation Copyright Fair serves as a major showcase for the achievements of the animation and designer-toy industries, a platform connecting Dongguan with global resources and a summer celebration of contemporary popular culture. Industry professionals, buyers, animation enthusiasts and visitors from around the world are invited to gather in Dongguan for the five-day event.
Media contact
Steven Zhao
Canada & World Report
zhao@canadanewsreport.com
