The Ried Exhibition Centre is one of Upper Austria's most traditional event venues and plays a clearly defined role in the Austrian trade fair industry. Located in the Innviertel region near the border with Bavaria, the venue benefits from its regional roots as well as its cross-border location. The town of Ried im Innkreis has good transport links and acts as the economic centre of a region with a strong agricultural and commercial character. With several halls, extensive outdoor grounds and additional event rooms, the site offers the infrastructure required for trade fairs, public exhibitions and special events. The location is functionally planned, geared towards practicality and strongly linked to the regional economy.
The roots of trade fairs in Ried go back a long way. Originally, the focus was on agricultural markets and exhibitions. This agricultural tradition continues to shape the profile of the location today. Trade fairs for agriculture and animal husbandry in particular have established themselves here and enjoy supra-regional significance. Over the decades, the site has been continuously expanded. New halls, modernisation of the infrastructure and adaptation to technical requirements have helped to keep the location competitive. At the same time, the focus on practical industry events has been maintained.
The site comprises several combinable halls of various sizes as well as spacious open areas. This combination is particularly relevant for events involving large-volume machinery or agricultural technology. The site's distinctive features are:
Messe Ried is particularly well positioned in the agricultural sector. Agricultural trade events are among the most important formats and attract visitors from all over Austria and neighbouring Bavaria. In addition to agricultural technology and animal husbandry, hunting and outdoor topics also play a role. Furthermore, sports and leisure fairs have established themselves, appealing to a wide audience. Public fairs with a regional focus complement the portfolio and ensure a continuous flow of visitors. Typical industry segments at the location:
The location fulfils an important function for the regional economy. Farmers, craft businesses and medium-sized companies use the platform to present their products and services. The proximity to Bavaria further expands the catchment area and strengthens the visitor base. The location is particularly relevant in the agricultural sector. Investments in machinery, stable technology or animal breeding are often prepared or finalised at trade fairs. This economic function goes beyond mere product presentation and has a direct impact on regional value creation. The hotel, catering and retail sectors also benefit from larger events. Visitors from the surrounding area and neighbouring countries generate additional demand.
Ried im Innkreis is conveniently located in the Innviertel region of Upper Austria. The site is easily accessible via regional road connections, and the railway station offers connections to the Austrian rail network. Its proximity to the German border makes it easy to reach from Bavaria. Compared to metropolitan locations, the town is compact, which means short distances between the exhibition grounds, the town centre and hotels. This structure facilitates organisational processes and reduces logistical complexity.
The location plays a specialised role within Austria. While Vienna is strongly internationally oriented and other locations focus on different industries, Ried stands above all for agricultural expertise and regional specialisation. This clear positioning prevents direct competition with large-scale international exhibition centres. Instead, Messe Ried specifically serves market segments with high regional relevance and technical depth.
Messe Ried is not a global landmark, but a functionally oriented event centre with strong regional roots. Its importance stems from its proximity to the target group, its agricultural expertise and the combination of indoor and outdoor spaces. Through continuous adaptation to technical requirements and stable event formats, the location remains a reliable part of the Austrian trade fair industry. It stands for technical specialisation, economic proximity and clear integration into the structure of the Innviertel region.