Dornbirn autumn fair attendance falls to 30,000

Around 30,000 visitors attended this year’s autumn fair in Dornbirn, about 13,500 fewer than last year, according to ORF. Two years ago, the event recorded 55,000 visitors. Fair management described this year’s turnout as stable.

The number of exhibitors also fell significantly. Around 380 exhibitors took part two years ago, compared with 300 last year and 220 this year.

The 78th autumn fair was the first held under new managing director Nilly Nail. Organisers halved the admission price to six euros in an effort to attract more visitors.

Nail described this year’s event as the start of a multi-year restructuring process. The fair had shown which offerings were well received and where changes were needed, he said. Those findings will feed into planning for 2027.

More than three-quarters of visitors surveyed said they would recommend the fair. Fifty-eight percent rated it as very good or good. Visitors said they generally spent between two and four hours at the event, and organisers want to increase that time in future.

The fair plans to analyse visitor and exhibitor feedback as well as its financial figures in the coming weeks. Organisers identified potential for improvement in the quality of visitors’ stay, food and drink, activities and the use of the outdoor grounds.