Events

Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags attendance stable at 8,000

Jan 15, 2026 Italy

The Italian trade fair specialising in footwear, bags and accessories, which took place from the 10th to the 13th of January, attracted almost 8,000 visitors, which is comparable to the previous June edition

According to Alessandra Albarelli, General Manager of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, the January edition of Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags, which focused on the autumn/winter 2026-2027 season, attracted nearly 8,000 visitors to Riva del Garda. The trade fair had 1057 exhibitors, of which 92 companies attended Gardabags, representing 40 countries.

Regarding attendance, Albarelli noted “a contraction in mature markets such as Italy, Germany and France”, but “significant growth from countries including Poland, Belgium, Slovenia, Georgia and North Macedonia, as well as emerging markets such as Chile, Colombia and Kenya. Particularly noteworthy was the participation of Korean buyers, confirming the fair’s role as a gateway for the development of new markets”. “We also saw an increase in operators from the e-commerce segment”.

In the statement, the organisation points out that the shift in visitor composition reflects ongoing political, economic and digital transformations. In this context, the focus was on Affinity Globalisation, a form of globalisation that is not fading, but evolving into a more complex and diverse model. However, the fairs demonstrated their role “as international hubs for industry networking, commercial exchange, and for interpreting and shaping future scenarios”.

“Some have described the Riva event as the ‘United Colors of Shoes and Bags’. In a world that is increasingly divided, Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags bring together the footwear, bags and travel goods sectors in a truly international setting”, concluded Albarelli.

Roberto Pellegrini, Chairman of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, also focused on diversification, announcing that “the event will no longer be just a footwear and bags trade fair, but will evolve into the global hub for volume fashion. This transformation will be driven by product diversification, offering buyers and manufacturers practical answers to industry needs”.

The next edition will take place from the 13^th to the 16^th of June 2026.

Image Credits: exporivaschuh.it

Italy Accessories Events Expo Riva Schuh Footwear Trade fairs