Following record participation from around the world in 2025, the IWA Knife Award 2026 is entering a new round! The world's leading trade fair, IWA OutdoorClassics 2026, will once again honor special achievements by exhibitors in the cutlery segment. The Xperience area BLADE Demo Area, new in Hall 4, will once again provide a high-quality setting for the IWA Knife Award 2026.
All exhibitors confirmed by NürnbergMesse at IWA OutdoorClassics 2026 with the specified product group “Knife” can take part. They can submit knives of all types - matching the categories. Participation in the IWA Knife Award 2026 is free of charge.
The submission deadline is January 16, 2026 (CET); pieces received after this date will not be admitted to the competition.
Category 1: EDC Folding Knives
Category 2: EDC Knives Fixed Blade
You can submit several different knives per category.
Points are awarded for the criteria of Workmanship/material, functionality/practicality, aesthetics/design, sales packaging (new), and concept/distinctive features.
The submitted knives will be displayed in secure showcases for the entire duration of the trade fair for jury assessment and trade visitor presentation.
The area will be guarded at night. This security does not affect the liability provisions set out in Item 19 of the General Terms of Participation for Trade Fairs and Exhibitions.
The exhibits will be returned to the submitter on the last day of the fair (01.03.2026) at the above-mentioned area from 3 - 4 p.m. against confirmation of receipt. Products not collected will not be returned.
For the presentations on site, the exhibits must be delivered to the forwarding agent Schenker by 19.02.2026.
Delivery address:
Schenker Deutschland AG
c/o IWA Knife Award, Your company name
Messezentrum 1 (Zufahrt via Große Straße, Tor 5)
90471 Nürnberg
IMPORTANT:
Late, lost or deliveries without an indication of the intended use are not eligible for participation. If the product is not available by 19.02.2026, participation in the IWA Knife Award 2026 is no longer possible. Participants are responsible for compliance with customs and other legal regulations.
An independent international jury of experts independently evaluates all submitted knives based on the submitted documents (text and photo/graphics) using a points system. The winner and the subsequent placings will then be determined from these exhibits and verified once again on site using the original product. The exhibits will be presented by the moderator as part of the stage program during the trade fair. The expert jury has the opportunity to award a special prize for special submissions, the “Special Jury Prize”. Trade visitors to IWA OutdoorClassics will also have the opportunity to vote for their “Trade visitors' favorite” on site using digital voting.
The Award Ceremony will take place in the BLADE Demo Area on Saturday, 28.02.2026, 16.00 hrs. All participants are requested to be there in good time.
All participants will receive the media attention through the communication measures of NürnbergMesse GmbH.
All products submitted may be published as part of NürnbergMesse's communications.
However, there is no entitlement to publication. By taking part in the competition, each participant agrees to his/her name and company being mentioned. Each participant grants NürnbergMesse the right to use his submitted data and content (e.g. photos, graphics, descriptions, etc.) free of charge for the purpose of this competition, for presentation in the relevant media and for reporting on the IWA Knife Award in all media. The competition participants assure that they are authorized to provide the submitted content, data and documents in accordance with these competition conditions. Participants indemnify NürnbergMesse against all third-party claims made in connection with the products submitted for the competition, including the costs of legal defense. Legal recourse is excluded.
The submission deadline for the IWA Knife Award has already passed. Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to register for the award.
