There will be no IWA OutdoorClassics 2021. After the cancellation of the 2020 edition, the 2021 event has been cancelled too. Here is the official statement from NürnbergMesse, the organizer of IWA:
“To allow all participants to plan with certainty, NürnbergMesse has taken the decision to cancel the IWA OutdoorClassics 2021 well ahead of time. Rising infection rates, various quarantine rules and travel restrictions are simply making it impossible for exhibitors and visitors to make any firm plans. The next IWA OutdoorClassics will take place in Nuremberg from 3–6 March 2022.”
The decision was in the air, especially after the German parliament passed a bill providing legal underpinning for the government to issue social distancing rules, require masks in public and to close stores and other venues to slow the spread of the Coronavirus.
“Over recent weeks we have received a lot of support and understanding from within the sector. The discussions we have had with our exhibitors have clearly shown that the IWA continues to be an essential part of the B2B community,” states Petra Wolf, from the NürnbergMesse Management Board. “Despite the challenging situation, more than 1000 exhibitors had registered for the trade fair. It is therefore with even greater regret that we must now postpone this event till 2022. This commitment by exhibitors and their willingness to participate in the fair reinforce our conviction that the IWA still plays a significant role,” Wolf continues.
New communication channels as preparation for next IWA: “Road to IWA 2022” – An interesting new idea to prepare the ground together with the industry
According to the press release, the IWA Team is currently working on an interim program however – a series of online and physical events and formats called “Road to IWA 2022” that will take place on March 12, 2021, the first day of the planned IWA 2021.
"We want to offer the sector the opportunity to stay in contact during these turbulent times. We are therefore working hard to develop concepts to allow us to bridge the gap until the next face-to-face gathering. We will miss the direct contact, that much is certain. It is therefore even more important to stick together as a sector and support one another,” explains Rebecca Schönfelder, Exhibition Director IWA OutdoorClassics.
Reactions supporting the decision come from the industry partners:
Klaus Gotzen, managing director of the JSM (German Firearms and Ammunition Manufacturers Association, one of the institutional sponsors of the IWA OutdoorClassics), says: “It is certainly true that the IWA is one of the most important occasions and industry gatherings in the year. But all of us need to prioritise our health. We very much regret the cancellation of the IWA because meeting our partners and members in person is so important to us. Nevertheless, we completely understand the decision by NürnbergMesse and are looking forward to the event in 2022.” The same feelings are expressed by Ingo Meinhard, managing director of the VDB (Association of German Gunsmiths and Gun Traders, representing the interests of around 1,400 members): “As a leading trade fair, the IWA is a source of information for an entire sector, presenting trends and innovations to an appreciative audience. It’s where our members not only gain inspiration but also meet like-minded professionals. The cancellation of the event affects the entire industry, and we hope that this unusual situation will normalise soon".
What all4shooters.com promises to you:
Even if the most important gun, hunting and sports shooting trade fairs and exhibitions are just about to be cancelled at the beginning of 2021, we will stay on the ball for you! all4shooters/all4hunters.com is in constant contact with the trade fair organizers, the manufacturers and the most important industry representatives in order to inform you quickly and in detail about all 2021 novelties.
For this purpose we are also working on new concepts such as online video interviews and much more. Furthermore, we guarantee perfect information not only on our website, but also via our Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels.
Further information on the cancellation of IWA OutdoorClassics 2021 is available on the NürnbergMesse website.
