On December 31st, as per the information from the 'Shanghai Commerce' official WeChat account, Shanghai is set to roll out a subsidy initiative in 2026 aimed at encouraging the trade-in of old household appliances and the purchase of new digital and smart devices. This program will employ a 'consumer registration, notarized lottery draw, and coupon distribution upon winning' approach. Typically, registration will occur bi-weekly. The inaugural registration phase is scheduled from 8:00 AM on January 1, 2026, to 8:00 PM on January 5. Successful participants will receive their coupons between 12:00 PM and 12:00 AM on January 7, and they will have 14 days from the receipt of their subsidy eligibility coupons to redeem them.

The subsidy encompasses six categories of household appliances that adhere to Grade 1 energy efficiency or water efficiency standards. These include refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, air conditioners, water heaters, and computers. Additionally, it covers four categories of digital and smart devices, each with a single-item price not exceeding 6,000 yuan. These devices are mobile phones, tablets, smartwatches (bracelets), and smart glasses.

The subsidy amount is calculated as 15% of the final sales price of the product, with a restriction of one subsidy per person per product category. The maximum subsidy available is 1,500 yuan for each household appliance and 500 yuan for each digital and smart device.