4 Days of Innovation, European Partnerships, and Game-Changing Optics in Nuremberg

 

Introduction

From February 26 to March 1, 2026, we brought our full lineup of precision optics to the world-famous IWA Outdoor Classics in Nuremberg, Germany — the most influential trade show for hunting, shooting, and outdoor equipment in Europe. At Hall 1, Booth 1-236, we welcomed thousands of European hunters, competitive precision shooters, industry distributors, and long-time DiscoveryOpt fans over 4 incredible days.

IWA Outdoor Classics is our most important European event of the year: it’s our chance to connect directly with the European shooting community, launch our newest innovations to the EU market, and hear first-hand from hunters and shooters about what they need from their optics. This year’s show exceeded every expectation, with non-stop hands-on demos, new partnership discussions, and overwhelmingly positive feedback on our brand-new product releases.

In this full recap, we’re breaking down all the biggest moments from IWA 2026: our three headline European product launches, the best moments from the show floor, real feedback from European shooters, and our plans for the European market in 2026 and beyond.

Our 2026 IWA Headline European Launches

The star of our booth this year was our lineup of brand-new products, making their official European debut at IWA 2026. Each product was built to solve the real pain points of European hunters and long-range shooters, from alpine big game hunting to night-time wild boar control. Here’s a full breakdown of our biggest launches:

1. ED-PRS GEN III 5-25x56: With Built-In Electronic Level

Hot off its prototype preview at SHOT Show 2026, our flagship ED-PRS GEN III 5-25x56 FFP scope with integrated Electronic Level made its full European debut at IWA — the next evolution of our award-winning ED-PRS long-range lineup.

Building on the industry-leading full ED glass performance that our GEN II lineup is known for across Europe, this new flagship adds a game-changing anti-cant system that eliminates missed shots from unnoticeable rifle tilt:

• An intuitive green indicator system that delivers instant visual alerts when rifle cant is detected, with left/right dedicated indicators to show exact tilt direction

• Fully adjustable sensitivity, so shooters can customize the alert precision for PRS competition, alpine long-range hunting, or recreational shooting

• Real-time feedback to keep your rifle perfectly level, even in high-pressure positional shooting or last-second mountain hunting shots

• Retains all the core features European shooters love: premium full ED glass for zero chromatic aberration, 34mm tube for maximum adjustment range, and rugged shockproof build rated for heavy magnum calibers

This scope was the most talked-about product at our booth, with a constant line of shooters waiting to test the built-in electronic level. For European hunters who regularly shoot in uneven mountain terrain, this innovation eliminates one of the most common causes of missed long-range shots — and the feedback was incredible.

2. All-New Thermal & Night Vision Optics Lineup

Our second massive European launch at IWA 2026 was our full thermal imaging and night vision scope series, built specifically for the European market’s booming night hunting and predator control scene.

We designed this lineup to solve the biggest frustrations European hunters have with thermal optics: blurry low-light resolution, slow target tracking, and complex controls that don’t work with gloves in cold weather. Our new lineup includes two core product families:

• THERMAL-NIGHT SCOPE DNTD225BC/DNTD325BC: Multi-spectrum day & night use scope, with integrated ballistic calculator, built-in laser rangefinder, and high-resolution sensor — perfect for wild boar and predator hunting, day or night.

• THERMAL IMAGER DTD219BC/DTD335BC: Handheld & weapon-mountable thermal imager, with integrated ballistic calculator and laser rangefinder, for scouting and target identification in complete darkness.

We ran live, non-stop demos of the thermal lineup at the booth, and hunters were blown away by the clarity, ease of use, and rugged build. For European countries with active night hunting and invasive species control programs, this lineup delivers professional-grade thermal performance at an accessible price point.

 

3. Adjustable MOA Scope Rings

Rounding out our IWA 2026 launches was our new Adjustable MOA Scope Rings, a critical accessory built to maximize the performance of our long-range ED series scopes.

Designed exclusively for 34mm / 1.30” scope tubes (the standard for our ED-PRS lineup), these rings solve a core pain point for long-range shooters:

• Adjustable cant angles from 0-90 MOA, to maximize your scope’s available elevation travel for extreme long-range shots

• Precision-machined aircraft-grade aluminum build, with a secure locking system to maintain zero through heavy recoil and rugged use

• Perfectly matched to our ED-PRS GEN II and GEN III scopes, creating a fully optimized long-range shooting system

This accessory was a huge hit with European PRS shooters and long-range hunters, who were able to see first-hand how the adjustable rings unlock more elevation range for long-distance alpine shots.

Show Floor Highlights: Full Lineup Demos & European Community Connections

Beyond the new launches, the heart of IWA 2026 was the chance to connect with the European shooting community. Over 4 days, our team had the privilege of:

• Showcasing our full product lineup: from our classic ED series hunting scopes, to our HT tactical line, to our brand-new thermal optics and GEN III prototype. Every scope was available for hands-on testing, with our product experts on hand to walk shooters through every feature.

• Reconnecting with our existing European distributors and retail partners, and building new relationships with partners across the EU, UK, and Eastern Europe to bring DiscoveryOpt optics to more shooters across the continent.

• Hosting non-stop one-on-one demos: our team worked with hundreds of hunters to find the perfect scope for their specific hunting style, from forest roe deer hunting to 1000-yard alpine long-range shooting.

• Hearing directly from you: we collected countless stories, feedback, and feature requests from European shooters, which will directly shape our product development and European market support going forward.

Our booth was packed from the moment the show opened each day, and it was incredible to see how many European hunters already trusted our ED series scopes for their hunts. Whether you stopped by for a quick test of the GEN III electronic level, or sat down for a full deep dive into our thermal lineup, we loved every second of connecting with you.

Real Feedback From European Shooters At IWA 2026

The best part of IWA is hearing directly from the people who use our optics in the field. Here’s just a small sample of the feedback we received at Booth 1-236:

• “I hunt chamois in the Austrian Alps, and I can’t tell you how many shots I’ve missed because of slight cant on uneven ground. This GEN III scope with the built-in electronic level fixes that completely. I’ve been using the GEN II for 2 years, and this upgrade is a no-brainer for me.”

• “I do wild boar control at night in Germany, and I’ve tested so many thermal scopes that are either too expensive or too hard to use. Your new DNTD scope is perfect — the controls are simple even with thick winter gloves, the rangefinder is fast, and the image is crystal clear. This is exactly what the European market needs.”

• “I drive 4 hours from the Czech Republic just to see your booth. I’ve been using your ED 3-12x44 for roe deer hunting for 3 seasons, and it’s never let me down. Getting to test the new GEN III and thermal lineup in person has been amazing — I’m leaving with a new set of your adjustable rings for my long-range rifle.”

• “The adjustable MOA rings are genius. I shoot PRS matches here in Europe, and I’ve been looking for a high-quality adjustable ring set that fits my ED-PRS scope perfectly. These are exactly what I needed to get more elevation for long-range stages.”

What’s Next For DiscoveryOpt in Europe

IWA 2026 was just the start of our expanded European plans for 2026. Here’s what you can look forward to in the coming months:

• The full European launch of the ED-PRS GEN III 5-25x56 with built-in Electronic Level, with full local pricing, availability, and pre-order details through our European distributors.

• The official EU release of our full thermal and night vision optics lineup, with local support and in-depth field tests tailored to European hunting scenarios.

• Expanded European customer support and service, to ensure every DiscoveryOpt user across the continent has access to fast, local help and warranty support.

• More in-depth content tailored to European hunters: from alpine long-range shooting guides, to wild boar night hunting tips, to full field tests of our products in European hunting environments.

• More chances to connect with us in person, at shooting shows and hunting expos across Europe throughout 2026.

If you stopped by our booth at IWA 2026, thank you from the entire DiscoveryOpt team. Your feedback, your stories, and your support are why we do what we do. If you couldn’t make it to the show this year, we’ll be sharing all the details on our new releases right here on the blog, on our social media channels, and through our European distributor network.

Closing

IWA Outdoor Classics 2026 was our biggest and most successful European show to date, and it’s all thanks to the incredible European shooting and hunting community. We’re more excited than ever to bring our innovative, high-value precision optics to the European market, and to keep building products that help you hit your mark, every single time.

Be sure to follow our social media channels for the latest updates on our IWA 2026 new releases, and check out the rest of our blog for our full ED series scope guides, hunting tips, and more.