A major plastics and rubber trade fair, CHINAPLAS 2026, is scheduled to take place from April 21–24, 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Hongqiao, Shanghai. The show is expected to span more than 390,000 square meters across 16 halls and to host over 4,600 exhibitors.

This edition will revolve around three themes: new materials, intelligent manufacturing and green transformation. According to the organizers, the event is designed to support the industry’s shift toward higher value-added, technology-driven production, while reflecting China’s broader move from “Made in China” to “Innovated in China”.

On the materials side, exhibitors will target fast-growing downstream sectors such as new energy vehicles, the low-altitude economy, aerospace, rail transportation, humanoid robotics, wind power and photovoltaics. Planned displays include modified plastics and special thermoplastic elastomers that offer higher strength and conductivity for use in batteries and sealing components, high-performance engineering plastics that can withstand extreme temperatures and corrosive environments, and lightweight thermoplastic composites for drones and robots.

In production technologies, CHINAPLAS 2026 will present end-to-end intelligent manufacturing solutions. These will range from automated injection molding, extrusion and blow molding lines to industrial IoT systems, digital management software, and intelligent inspection and quality-control platforms. The organizers say such technologies can help manufacturers improve productivity and progress from simple automation to data-driven “smart factory” operations.

Green and low-carbon solutions will form another pillar of the show, in line with China’s “dual carbon” goals of peaking and then neutralizing emissions. Exhibits are expected to include additives made using carbon capture technologies to reduce emissions during plastics production, recycling technologies such as waste oil recovery and volatile organic compound (VOC) repurposing, and materials that enhance the performance of recycled plastics and bioplastics. Bio-based, biodegradable and eco-compatible coupling and toughening agents are highlighted as key enabling technologies for companies looking to enter or expand in green product markets.

The 2026 edition will be larger than the 2024 Shanghai show in both scale and exhibitor mix. Booth reservations have already exceeded initial forecasts, and the organizers plan to bring in more technology-oriented companies and innovative material and equipment suppliers to broaden the range of solutions on display.

Diversity and exhibitor quality are cited as major strengths. Leading plastics and rubber companies from around the world are expected to attend, alongside more than 1,400 so-called “Shining Niche” enterprises — firms recognized by Chinese authorities for their specialization, innovation and operational performance. Together, they are expected to offer a comprehensive view of the current capabilities within China’s plastics and rubber value chain.

Demand from international buyers is another focus. CHINAPLAS 2025 attracted 281,206 professional visitors from more than 170 countries and regions, including 68,542 attendees from overseas and from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, accounting for 24.37% of the total. The 2026 event aims to build on this base by working with overseas industry associations and inviting key buyers from sectors such as automotive, electronics, electrical and packaging.

Supporting these efforts is CPS+ eMarketplace, positioned as CHINAPLAS’s O2O (online-to-offline) partner. Buyers can use the platform year-round to search exhibitor information and arrange on-site meetings, while suppliers can be matched with specific sourcing needs.

Online pre-registration for CHINAPLAS 2026 is already open, with advance admission tickets priced at USD 7.5. First held in 1983, CHINAPLAS is approved by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.