IWA OutdoorClassics 2020, Europe’s largest outdoor and firearms trade fair, has been postponed. The event was due to take place on 6-9 March, at the NürnbergMesse convention centre in Nuremberg, Germany. ENFORCE TAC, a defence and security trade show which preceeds IWA OutdoorClassics (on 4-6 March), has also been postponed. Although the announcement states the events will be rescheduled to later this year, there is no update on when this may be.

While the accouncement makes no direct mention to the current Coronavirus outbreak it does state “current circumstances”. OutdoorClassics 2020 is a major trade show with over 1,600 exhibitors and 45,476 visitors from 121 countries attending last year. With concerns about the virus spreading rising and with visitors from across the globe no doubt difficult decision to the postpone the event seems like a wise precaution. IWA OutdoorClassics is not the only large conference to be cancelled in recent days with Facebook cancelling their Global Marketing Summit and Cisco Systems have also cancelled an event.

Our friends at The Prepared have a rundown on the viral outbreak and ways of preventing infection, check that out here.

IWA OutdoorClassics is normally preceded by ENFORCE TAC, a security and defence focused trade fair, and ENFORCE TAC’s website has not also been updated with a similar postponement announcement.

Below is the current announcement from IWA’s organisers with the promise that “further information will follow shortly.”

NürnbergMesse has decided to postpone IWA OutdoorClassics 2020 from the planned date of 6-9 March 2020 to a date in 2020, which has yet to be determined.

We hope you will understand the decision taken. The aim of every trade fair must be to create a special experience for exhibitors and visitors alike and to facilitate the diverse establishment and expansion of business relationships. Unfortunately, this goal cannot be achieved under the current circumstances.

Update 27/02/20 17:00 (GMT)

Organisers have released a longer statement on the postponement, but with no new details:

Postponement of IWA OutdoorClassics 2020 and Enforce Tac / U.T.SEC 2020

By virtue of the new situation regarding the spread of the corona virus, NürnbergMesse has decided to postpone IWA OutdoorClassics 2020 and Enforce Tac / U.T.SEC 2020: from the planned dates of 4-5 and 6-9 March 2020 to a date in 2020, which yet has to be specified.

IWA OutdoorClassics is the leading international exhibition for hunting and shooting, equipment for outdoor and for civilian and official security applications. Petra Wolf, Member of the Management Board of NürnbergMesse: “We hope that the industry will understand the decision to postpone. The aim of every exhibition has to be to create a special experience for exhibitors and visitors likewise and to enable networking and expansion of existing business relations. Unfortunately, this goal cannot be achieved under the current circumstances”.

The IWA OutdoorClassics, which was planned to take place from 6 to 9 March 2020, has been postponed to a date this year that has yet to be determined in detail: “We are aware of the great importance of the IWA for our exhibitors and visitors. All the more reason for us to put high pressure on the task to find the best possible alternative date for such an important event for our customers,” says Petra Wolf.

The Enforce Tac / U.T.SEC trade show, which runs before will also be postponed in line with IWA OutdoorClassics.

TFB will continue to monitor the situation and bring you updates on IWA OutdoorClassics 2020’s postponement.

In the meantime you can find out more on their website here.