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Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags 105 draws 8,000 participants

Jun 19, 2026 Italy

The Italian trade fair specialising in footwear, bags and accessories welcomed around 8,000 participants to its last edition, with attendance numbers broadly similar to those of the June 2025 edition

The 105^th edition of Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags, held from the 13^th to the 16^th of June, attracted around 8,000 visitors, 69.7% of whom came from outside Italy, despite ongoing uncertainty in global footwear and accessories markets. Organisers reported growing participation from buyers from Poland, India and Latin America.

The event also brought together over 1,000 brands and exhibitors from 44 countries. A total of 235 hosted buyers and journalists from 51 countries attended, 26 of whom were participating in the incoming programme for the first time, with support from the Italian Trade Agency (ITA).

Beyond attendance figures, the last edition of the trade fair highlighted major shifts in global sourcing and trade. Discussions centred on the impact of new trade agreements involving Mercosur, India and Australia, with companies re-evaluating their supply chains in response to changing market conditions.

“Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags are like an interactive map, enabling us to read the increasingly rapid shifts in global trade in real time, reposition partnerships strategically and find new balances within supply chains”, highlighted Giovanna Voltolini, Group Exhibition Manager at Riva del Garda Fierecongressi.

The event featured 22 conferences, presentations and networking initiatives, as well as new digital formats such as AI-generated fashion shows. Innovation Village Retail hosted 10 startups from seven countries, and Shoefitr.io, a footwear-sizing specialist, won the Startup Competition.

Alessandra Albarelli, General Manager of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, highlighted: “Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags are the expression of a collective intelligence involving exhibitors, buyers, associations, experts and professionals from all over the world”.

“In this edition, we have provided a concrete demonstration of our ability to respond and remain proactive, focusing on three key directions: increasing internationalisation, innovation as a growth driver for the entire supply chain, and new ways of telling product stories”, she summed up.

Image Credits: exporivaschuh.it

Italy Accessories Events Expo Riva Schuh Footwear Trade fairs