Shanghai has opened applications for a fund to support the exhibition industry, aiming to promote the transformation and upgrading of the exhibition sector and strengthen the city's role as an international exhibition hub.

Support is available for eligible exhibition projects and public service projects, including professional exhibition clusters, newly introduced or developed professional exhibitions, quality exhibitions seeking to maintain scale and improve quality.

Assistance will also cover information platform development, data monitoring, industry research, and other public services for the exhibition industry.

Applicants should log in to Government Online-Offline Shanghai with a "Legal Entity One Pass" (法人一证通) account or an electronic business license.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include enterprises, public institutions, social organizations, industry institutions, and other entities that are legally registered, operate in compliance with laws and regulations, and pay taxes as required.

Eligible exhibition projects should be international economic or technological exhibitions held in Shanghai and should have completed the required filing procedures.

Projects that have received other municipal fiscal funding support are not eligible, except for projects covered by the "2026 Shanghai Special Fund for High-Quality Business Development (business, tourism, culture, sports, and exhibition linkage projects)". Activities carried out with fiscal funding are not eligible for rewards. Projects facing intellectual property disputes, as well as applicants that have been punished by law enforcement departments for major legal or regulatory violations, have had a production safety accident within the past three years, or have been included on the Credit China list of dishonest entities, are also not eligible. Exhibitions organized by Party or government organs, as well as sales exhibitions mainly focused on on-site retail, are not covered by the fund.

Supported projects

1. Professional exhibition clusters

Support is available for professional exhibitions that align with Shanghai's industrial development priorities, focus on leading industries and key industrial chains, and demonstrate strong influence in their respective sectors.

Eligible projects should be held at professional exhibition venues in Shanghai, completed between January and December 2025, and have overseas exhibitors and buyers accounting for at least 10 percent of all exhibitors and buyers.

2. Professional exhibitions held in Shanghai for the first time

Eligible projects should be professional international economic and technological exhibitions covering 5,000 to 50,000 square meters and held for the first time at professional exhibition venues in Shanghai. The projects should be completed between January and December 2025.

3. Maintaining scale and improving quality of exhibitions

Support is available for exhibition projects held at professional exhibition venues in Shanghai that meet certain standards in terms of exhibition area or average daily attendance.

This category includes rewards for exhibition expansion and capacity improvement, as well as subsidies for eligible costs related to exhibitor and buyer recruitment, promotion, production safety, public security, and fire safety.

4. Public service projects

Support is available for public service projects that contribute to the high-quality development of Shanghai's exhibition industry, including information platform development, data monitoring, and industry research.

Application materials

Applicants need to prepare the application form, qualification documents, the legal representative's identity document, the 2025 audit report and audited financial statements, and supporting documents related to the project category.

Project-specific supporting documents may include exhibition venue rental contracts, proof of exhibition area or attendance figures, proof of the proportion of overseas exhibitors or buyers, exhibition summary reports, expense vouchers, and authorization documents for jointly organized projects.

Application deadlines

Applications are open from June 1 to June 18, 2026. Applicants should log in to Government Online-Offline Shanghai with a "Legal Entity One Pass" account or an electronic business license, and submit the electronic materials through the "Suishendui" enterprise policy service window. Late applications will not be accepted.

Application process

1. Submit application materials online.

2. The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce will organize project reviews.

3. For projects that meet the requirements, pass review or evaluation, and complete the public announcement period without objection, the finance department will disburse the funds in accordance with relevant procedures.

Note:

Applicants should note that support under Category 2 and Category 3 cannot be received at the same time. The rewards and subsidies received by the same applicant are subject to the applicable cap.

The English version is for reference only. In the event of any discrepancy, the official Chinese version shall prevail.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Finance