News & Updates

Bavarian State Minister of the Interior Joachim Herrmann becomes patron of IWA OutdoorClassics 2026

The IWA OutdoorClassics, the world’s leading exhibition for hunting, shooting sports, outdoor equipment and civilian security, is placing a highly relevant societal issue at the center of its 2026 agenda. Under the guiding theme “From Survival to Crisis Preparedness – Opportunities for the Trade,” the IWA Vision program addresses the rapidly growing public focus on resilience, emergency planning and sustainable security solutions. 

The patronage of Joachim Herrmann, Bavarian State Minister of the Interior, adds political weight and underscores the national relevance of the topic.Political Relevance and Market Responsibility Public discourse around blackout scenarios, supply chain disruptions and civilian security strategies has intensified in recent years. A major power outage in Berlin in January 2026 once again demonstrated how vulnerable critical infrastructure can be—and how essential structured crisis preparedness has become. 

Against this backdrop, Minister Herrmann’s patronage signals that crisis resilience is no longer a niche discussion, but firmly anchored in political and societal debate. Herrmann emphasizes that qualified specialist retailers play a decisive role in strengthening civilian preparedness. Hunting and shooting sports retailers, in particular, already contribute significantly to supply readiness by offering crisis equipment, emergency solutions and professional consultation. Their long-standing expertise in handling sensitive products and advising responsibly positions them as credible partners for citizens preparing for extraordinary situations.

Political Keynote on the SHOOTING EXPERTS’ Stage -On Saturday at 11:40 a.m., Minister Herrmann will deliver a keynote address on current developments in civilian security and crisis preparedness. His remarks will focus specifically on the responsibility and opportunity of specialist retailers in shaping a resilient supply structure. The keynote introduces a clear political perspective into the professional dialogue and reinforces IWA’s role as a forward-looking industry platform.

The IWA Vision program delivers structured, high-level expertise for retailers, manufacturers and media representatives. A central highlight is the Vision Keynote by international blackout and crisis preparedness expert Herbert Saurugg, who will examine causes, systemic vulnerabilities and societal consequences of large-scale power outages in Europe. 

This will be followed by an expert panel featuring Herbert Saurugg, Florian Würtenberger, Thomas Gessler (ÜberlebensHeld), survival expert Martin Linke and Johannes Kouba (Critical Knowledge – Medical Training Solution). The discussion will provide concrete guidance on future-relevant product categories—from energy management and emergency power systems to first-aid equipment and infrastructure-independent communication tools.Complementing the stage program, the IWA Vision Area presents crisis-relevant product solutions directly behind the SHOOTING EXPERTS’ Stage, translating strategic dialogue into tangible retail opportunities. 

IWA exclusive focus on trade visitors ensures a qualified professional audience and creates an environment where informed dialogue, strategic networking and responsible market development define the agenda for the year ahead.

Source: Georg Loichinger IWA PR.