CIBF 2026 Opens in Shenzhen — World's Largest Battery Fair (3,200+ Exhibitors)

The 18th China International Battery Fair (CIBF 2026) opened at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center on May 13, 2026, running through May 15. The event — the world's largest battery industry exhibition — spans 280,000 square meters with more than 3,200 exhibitors and an expected 350,000 attendees. CATL, BYD, EVE Energy, Sunwoda, CBAK Energy, and BAK Battery all displayed new products at the event, spanning solid-state, sodium-ion, LFP, NMC, and vanadium flow chemistries. Key themes at CIBF 2026 included: (1) second-life battery systems (repurposing retired EV battery packs into grid storage), (2) AI-driven battery management systems, (3) next-generation solid-state and semi-solid-state cells with 400+ Wh/kg targets, and (4) ultra-fast-charging infrastructure enabling sub-10-minute charge times. The event serves as the de facto annual barometer of the global battery industry's state of technology, investment confidence, and competitive landscape, with product announcements from CIBF often setting the agenda for the following 12–18 months.