This same principle guides Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, which from 10 to 13 January 2026 will once again host Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags.
The upcoming edition – which, as customary, opens the Autumn/Winter 2026–27 season – builds on the proven strengths of its offering, while further evolving its services (including several new ones) to provide certainty and support to international manufacturers and buyers.
In a world marked by profound geopolitical instability and constant shifts in production and consumption markets, Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags reaffirm their role as a space of genuine globalisation and an essential point of reference for the international footwear and leather goods industry.
EVOLUTION IN NUMBERS
The leading trade fairs dedicated to the production of footwear, bags and leather goods, luggage and travel accessories are recording figures for the winter edition that testify to their strength and appeal.
More than 1,000 brands and exhibitors will be present, representing 40 countries. The event’s geographical distribution reflects its global vocation: 40% of exhibitors are from Europe, while the remaining 60% come from non-European countries.
Looking more closely at country representation, China confirms its leading role with 33% of exhibitors, followed by Italy (16%), India (10%) and Turkey (9%).
Among the key new developments is the participation of Colombia as a new exhibiting country at Expo Riva Schuh, while for the first time, Gardabags will welcome a group of Argentine companies, further enriching the fair’s international profile.
Gardabags will feature over 80 companies at the January edition, evenly distributed across its three strategic areas: Brands, Sourcing4Bridge and Sourcing. A well-balanced and diverse showcase designed to meet the needs of every type of buyer, delivering on its promise to address market demand across different business models. Among the exhibiting brands are prestigious names such as Pelletteria Charlotte, Marina Galanti, Luana Ferracuti, Armata di Mare, Y-dry, Nannini, Caleidos, American Traveller and Lancetti.
Expo Riva Schuh, meanwhile, boasts a strong presence of well-established, internationally recognised brands, including Fly London, Tamaris, XTI, Valleverde, Marco Tozzi, S.Oliver, Mjus, Bronx, Inblu, Jomos, Laura Vita, Refresh, Levi’s Kids Footwear, Kangaroos, Lotto, Lee, Wrangler and O’Neill, offering visitors a comprehensive overview of collections for the upcoming season.
On the visitor side, the Hosted Buyer program once again confirms its effectiveness, with 120 hosted buyers: 15 focused exclusively on footwear, 30 on bags, and 75 interested in both sectors. These professionals come from 26 different countries.
EVOLUTION OF EVENTS
The program for the next edition features a total of 16 events. A rich and varied schedule encompassing innovation, trends and networking.
The Innovation Village, located in Area A2, will host 10 start-ups from 7 countries: Romania, the United States, Italy (with three projects), France (with two initiatives), the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and China. The startups will present their innovative ideas to the audience during three pitching sessions and compete in the Startup Competition, with the winner announced on the afternoon of Monday, 12 January.
The Highlights Area, created in collaboration with Arsutoria, will host five events dedicated to consumer trends.
The evolution of the fair is also reflected in its digital counterpart. Through the official event app, visitors can access the full program of events, the exhibitor and product catalogue, the interactive map, manage their appointment agenda with exhibitors, and obtain information on transfer and shuttle services.
EVOLUTION AS INNOVATION
In Hall A2, the new Showcase Area will be introduced – designed as a space in which to present selected samples of bags, leather goods and travel accessories from the collections of Gardabags exhibitors, all unified by a single colour theme inspired by the warm tones of the winter season. The Showcase Area has been created to highlight Gardabags product offerings, strengthening and supporting the storytelling of the fair’s three key sectors.
Among the new features is the launch of the Garda Trentino Lounge, a new hospitality space for media, partners and guests located in Hall D, developed in partnership with Garda Dolomiti Azienda per il Turismo. The area has been conceived as a sensory and immersive experience, evoking the outdoor lifestyle of the Upper Garda region.
This new space reinforces one of the fair’s core objectives: the inseparable bond between the event and its host territory.
Paraphrasing the renowned historian Arnold Joseph Toynbee, Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags are “a movement and not a condition; a voyage and not a harbour.” They nurture their evolutionary spirit by delivering events with a truly global reach – events capable of hosting a community of professionals, helping them to continually strengthen networking and business opportunities.
