As the world's leading exhibition for the hunting and shooting sports industry, IWA OutdoorClassics focuses on visitors from the international specialist trade in this segment. From 27.2.-2.3.2025, specialist retailers will not only be able to get an overview of the new products from exhibitors from all over the world who have travelled to Nuremberg, Germany, the supporting program will also offer them valuable training and information opportunities. These include the SHOOTING EXPERTS' Stage, which brings retailers up to date on topics such as marketing, trade developments, retail design, logistics and gun law. IWA 2025 also offers numerous excellent opportunities for both exhibitors and visitors from the specialist trade to network internationally.
IWA XPERIENCE: IWA 2025 offers 3 special areas for specialist retailers to test, exchange experiences and obtain information
At IWA OutdoorClassics 2025, there will be a total of three special XPERIENCE areas: the SHOOTING EXPERTS' Stage in Hall 1, the BLADE Demo Area in Hall 5 and the AIRSOFT Shooting Area in Hall 2 . The focus of the special areas will be on product testing, stage programs and community exchange.
The SHOOTING EXPERTS' Stage will continue its proven format at IWA 2025 so that IWA 2025 can continue to establish itself as a training and education platform. With the planned program of presentations, trade visitors will be able to bring themselves up to date on a wide range of topics, particularly from the retail sector. Here is an overview of some of them:
The topic of specialist retail in transition has a strong focus. In his keynote speech, international retail expert Magnus Ohlsson will provide insights into current factors influencing the market and highlight solutions for specialist retailers. However, aspects such as retail design (customer-orientated shop design), the correct handling of the Money Laundering Act, the topic of weapons logistics as well as presentations by the German Federal Ministry of the Interior and the VDB (Association of German Gunsmiths and Gun Dealers) also fall under this topic area.
In the Marketing section, experts such as Amelie Eichinger-Noll and Christine Fischer will explain how specialist retailers can utilise social networks and explain what to look out for when approaching customers.
The VDB provides recommendations for action on the subject of gun law resulting from the new German Weapons Act.
Introduced in 2023, the BLADE Demo Area has established itself as a focal point for the international trade and will once again serve as such at IWA OutdoorClassics 2025. With its concept of product display, stage program, table-top presentations, live demonstrations and a catering zone, it underlines the importance of the knife industry within the sector, which should not be underestimated. At the IWA Knife Award 2025, an international jury of experts will once again evaluate all submitted knives/cutlery products – this time also in the new Kitchen / Cooking and Outdoor categories. The IWA Knife Awards cerimony will take place on Saturday, 1 March 2025 at 16:00 in the BLADE Demo Area.
Fans of the AIRSOFT Shooting Area can look forward to an upgrade with a new stage programme in Hall 2 in 2025. There, trade visitors will receive valuable tips on handling and trading airsoft guns and accessories. IWA cooperation partner Airsoft Helden is responsible for implementing the stage program and the shooting parkour. In 2025 there will also be a joint stand for paintball exhibitors for the first time – also in Hall 2 – where they will present their products. This means that the world's leading trade fair in Nuremberg can now cover the entire spectrum of civilian shooting for the specialist trade.
IWA VISION enters the second round with the new "TALENT" promotion program and a new partner
The promotion of young talent, which will play a more important role at IWA OutdoorClassics in the future, is also forward-looking. With the "TALENT" support program, the organisers want to enable international students and apprentices from the hunting, shooting sports and outdoor industries to participate in the exhibition with a financial support. In addition to travel allowances and catering for participants, the program also offers young people from the industry the opportunity to take part in panel discussions, for example, or to present themselves to potential employers and network with each other on site. The IWA also continues to offer sponsorship opportunities and more favourable conditions of participation for new exhibitors and start-ups. For example, trade visitors can look forward to a wide and interesting range of products from companies from all over the world in the Newcomer Area in the transition from Hall 1 to 3C.
IWA OutdoorClassics has gained DIWIMA GmbH from Münster/Westphalia as a new VISION partner. The company is one of the leading players in the field of process digitalisation for hunting, forestry and (veterinary) authorities and may be familiar to hunters thanks to its digital game tags.
As part of IWA Vision, IWA 2025 will also include a white paper dedicated to the retail sector, which is currently facing far-reaching challenges. Among other things, the white paper provides insights into counteracting measures and trends, thereby fulfilling an important task for the industry.
IWA EXPERTS emphasises the international orientation of IWA 2025 and aims to strengthen the dealer network
For decades, IWA OutdoorClassics has thrived on its international character and the quality of its trade visitors. To ensure that this remains the case in the future, IWA will invest more in relationships with dealers and create some added value. An exclusive evening event with retailers, exhibitors and selected experts will kick off IWA 2025. An EXPERTS Lounge will open on site for the international specialist trade. We will reveal more about the new "IWA EXPERTS" program here on all4shooters.com at the beginning of 2025.
What trade visitors can expect in and around the exhibition halls at IWA OutdoorClassics 2025
The wide range of products on offer and the halls that are expected to be full will not make it any easier for some trade visitors to find their way around the next IWA. For this reason, IWA 2025 will feature guided tours for the first time, which will also be offered virtually with digital guidance.
Last but not least, the numerous annual events organised by the industry and its international and national associations in parallel to IWA OutdoorClassics certainly contribute to the future security of the trade fair in Nuremberg. For example, the World Forum on Shooting Activities (WFSA) holds its annual plenary session here, as does the VDB's general meeting. In addition, exhibitors and trade visitors will toast the success of the trade fair together at IWA 2025 under the motto "Carnival of Cultures" on 28 February, i.e. on Friday. All in all, the wide range of events at and around the trade fair offer excellent opportunities to make new contacts and maintain and refresh existing ones – a perfect place for networking.
You will find more detailed information on the IWA 2025 supporting program on the IWA OutdoorClassics website or at all4shooters.com in the course of January.
