Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags (June edition)

The global footwear trade fair on Lake Garda

Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags is the most important international trade fair dedicated to volume footwear and leather goods. It is held twice a year, in January and June, at the Riva del Garda Exhibition Centre, located at Via Baltera 20, in the town of Riva del Garda in the province of Trento (Trentino-Alto Adige). The June edition launches the industry's commercial season and is an unmissable event for buyers, distributors, importers, and fashion business professionals.

A meeting point born on Lake Garda

The event has its roots in the late 1960s, when a small group of Italian and German wholesalers and representatives, led by Friedrich Karl Eichholz, began meeting twice a year on Lake Garda for a few days of business. In 1974, these meetings were officially named Expo Riva Schuh, eventually growing to become the benchmark trade fair for the international shoe business community. In 2024, the event celebrated its 100th edition, marking half a century of history.

Footwear, bags, and accessories

The fair is organized by Riva del Garda Fierecongressi S.p.A. and brings together two complementary souls under one roof: Expo Riva Schuh, dedicated to footwear, and Gardabags, the area reserved for bags, leather goods, and travel accessories. The sectors range from sneakers to private label collections, and from established brands to productions from rising markets. Exhibitors arrive from dozens of countries: China remains the top exhibiting nation, followed by Italy, Turkey, and India, in a showcase that reflects the balance of global trade.

More than just an exhibition: business and training

Alongside the stands, Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags offers a rich calendar of events designed for professionals: conferences on market trends, Market Focus sessions dedicated to different geographical areas (Asia, America, Europe, Africa, Middle East), the Innovation Village Retail with its Startup Competition, Area Highlights on shoe and bag trends, and evening networking moments. The fair thus acts as a true business and training platform for the entire supply chain.

An event reserved for professionals

Admission is free but strictly reserved for industry professionals, subject to mandatory online registration. It is not an event open to the general public, but a business-to-business trade show that brings thousands of buyers from all over the world to Riva del Garda, with significant benefits for the hospitality and tourism sector of the Upper Lake Garda area.