Riesa is a town in the district of Meißen in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is located at the river Elbe, approx. 40 kilometres (25 miles) northwest of Dresden.

The name of the town Riesa is derived from the Slavic Riezowe her. This name, romanised as "Rezoa", appears first in October 1119 in a document from Pope Callixtus II.

The world's first 110 kV power line was inaugurated between Riesa and Lauchhammer in 1912.

During the 1980s Riesa was the headquarters of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany's 9th Tank Division.

Riesa has a 25m tall iron sculpture of an oak trunk, named "Elbquelle", by Jörg Immendorff. There are many other names for the Elbquelle, for example "Rostige Eiche", which means "rusty oak". Many inhabitants of Riesa call the sculpture "Rostige Eiche", because it looks rusty.

In the city of Riesa there are two famous churches. The minster, St. Marien, arose in the year 1261 in addition to the Benedictine Abbey. The Trinitatis Church was constructed later, completion in the year 1897.

Riesa is also known locally for the Erdgasarena, a large hall which hosted the European Sumo Wrestling Championship in October 2003 and the World Sumo Wrestling Championship in October 2004.