In this paper, the exponential stabilization problem is addressed for a class of nonlinear parabolic partial differential equation (PDE) systems via sampled-data fuzzy control approach. Initially, the nonlinear PDE system is accurately represented by the Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy PDE model. Then, based on the T–S fuzzy PDE model, a novel time-dependent Lyapunov functional is used to design a sampled-data fuzzy controller under spatially point measurements such that the closed-loop fuzzy PDE system is exponentially stable with a given decay rate. The stabilization conditions are presented in terms of a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Finally, simulation results on the control of the diffusion equation and the FitzHugh–Nagumo (FHN) equation to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed design method.