CIOE Shenzhen Guide: Optoelectronics Expo and Leads
By Ilyas Kerbal,
CIOE, the China International Optoelectronic Exposition, is the world’s largest optoelectronics show. The 2025 edition hosted 3,827 exhibitors and 143,645 visitors, and in 2026 it grew to about 260,000 m². Optical modules for AI data centres have made it more important than ever. If you sell into photonics, optical communications, lasers or sensing, the CIOE attendee list is a direct route to buyers and engineers.
This guide is for teams planning the September 2027 edition.
CIOE key facts
| Industry | Optoelectronics / photonics |
| City | Shenzhen, China |
| Venue | Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center (Bao’an) |
| Dates | September, 2026: 9–11 Sep |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Moves between cities? | No, always Shenzhen |
| Typical scale | ~120,000 attendees · ~3,700 exhibitors |
| Visitor ticket | Free trade registration (online) |
| App / platform | Online registration + WeChat |
| Official website | cioe.cn |
Details checked in October 2026. Dates, prices and venues can change between editions, so confirm on the official CIOE website before you book travel.
What is CIOE?
CIOE is organised by Shenzhen UBM Herong (Informa) as a set of concurrent expos:
| Expo | Focus |
|---|---|
| Information & Communication | Optical modules for AI data centres and telecom |
| Precision Optics & Camera | Lenses, optics, camera modules |
| Laser Technology & Intelligent Manufacturing | Industrial lasers and laser processing |
| Infrared Applications | Thermal imaging |
| Intelligent Sensing | LiDAR, machine vision |
| Photonics Innovation | Research and new technology |
| Display Technology | Display components |
| AR/VR | Optics for immersive devices |
Lasers, optics and optical modules fill CIOE’s halls. Photo: Derbrauni, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
When and where
CIOE is held every September at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao’an. It used to be at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center in Futian. The 2026 edition ran 9–11 September. Bao’an is far from the city centre, but Shenzhen’s electronics ecosystem is close by.
Who attends CIOE
| Attendee | Interest | Who should target them |
|---|---|---|
| Optical and photonics engineers | Components and tools | Optics, laser and test suppliers |
| Data centre and telecom procurement teams | Optical modules and transceivers | Module and component makers |
| Automotive (LiDAR/ADAS) and consumer electronics buyers | Sensors, lenses, cameras | Sensing and optics companies |
| Distributors and agents | Lines to represent | Manufacturers |
| Researchers and university labs | New technology | Instrument makers |
| Investors | Deal flow | Photonics startups |
Booking meetings at CIOE? Start with the right names. I’ll put together the CIOE attendee and exhibitor list with job titles, company details and LinkedIn profiles, formatted for your CRM. Ask me for a quote
Registration
CIOE is trade-only. Visitors register online in advance at cioe.cn, and no visitor fee is published. Conferences have separate registration.
Digital tools
Registration and exhibitor search run through cioe.cn and CIOE’s WeChat account; there’s no dedicated app. In a niche this technical, generic contact lists don’t work. You need the specific engineers and buyers at data centre operators, module makers and automotive suppliers. An enriched CIOE list, organised by concurrent expo, gets you there.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unmatched depth in photonics and optical communications | Very technical audience |
| Strong AI-driven optical module supply chain | China-centric; export controls affect some topics |
| Free trade entry | Venue far from the city centre |
| Concurrent conferences | Language barrier at smaller booths |
| Shenzhen’s electronics ecosystem nearby | Crowded halls |
Exhibiting is expensive. An empty meeting calendar is worse. A pre-event CIOE list with decision-makers, companies and LinkedIn profiles gives your booth staff something to work with. Get the CIOE attendee list
Preparing for CIOE
- Pick your concurrent expos; each is a show in itself.
- Check export control implications for your products.
- Bring engineers who can discuss specs on the spot.
- Book meetings three weeks ahead with your top targets.
- Plan supplier visits in Shenzhen around the show.
- Log technical details with every lead.
FAQ
When is CIOE?
Every September in Shenzhen. The 2026 edition ran 9–11 September.
Is CIOE free?
It’s trade-only with online registration, and no visitor fee is published.
Who organises CIOE?
Shenzhen UBM Herong, part of Informa.
Can I get the CIOE attendee list?
There’s no exportable list. I can build an enriched list of CIOE exhibitors and visitor profiles.
Need CIOE leads ready for your CRM?
Past clients have used my lists to fill their meeting calendars before a show and to stop leads going cold afterwards. If you want the same for CIOE, tell me what you sell and who you need to reach, and I’ll come back with what I can deliver and when.
Request your CIOE list on the home page
Related event guides
- LASER World of PHOTONICS CHINA: Show Guide and Leads
- CIBF Guide: China International Battery Fair in Shenzhen
- China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF) 2026: Shenzhen Visitor Guide
Sources
Photo credits
- Cover image: Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center (11) by Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- In-article image: Laser World of Photonics 01 by Derbrauni, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
