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Upcoming Contests – Things to Do |
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World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) 2026 has come and gone, and congratulations to everyone involved in making that happen.
Mark Haynes, M0DXR, and the whole team have set a high bar for the 2030 organizers.
Coming up this week and next are a couple of great contests.
The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) IOTA Contest is this weekend.
If you are unfamiliar with Islands on the Air (IOTA), it is another way we hams have divided up the world, this time into island groups.
The purpose of the IOTA contest is to highlight these different island groups and encourage activity in the IOTA program.
It has standard single- and multioperator categories, split by whether you’re operating from an IOTA island or from home.
Multipliers are IOTA references, and you get more QSO points for working island stations.
With the contest being mixed mode, you can expect good activity no matter what the band conditions are.
Also coming up between contest update issues is the CW running of the North American QSO Party (NAQP). This is the fastest 12 hours of domestic contesting out there, with high rates on the table for the adept operator.
It is also quite a friendly contest; the exchange is name and state, and as you do more NAQPs of all modes, you remember the names of familiar call signs.
Plus, you can only use up to 100 W, so you do not need a super station to do well.
If you’ve never done an NAQP, give it a try in a couple of weeks!
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July 23, 2026 - August 5, 2026
See the "Contests" section below for complete contest information.
Note: Contest dates and times are in UTC. This means that a contest that is listed to start on a Saturday at 0000z, for example, really starts on a Friday night in US time zones.
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July 23
July 24
July 25
July 26
July 27
July 28
July 29
July 30
July 31
August 1
August 3
August 4
August 5
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News, Press Releases, and Special Interest |
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For those interested in the future of the famed Visalia International DX Convention, the organizers have announced the dates for the 2027 event:
“The Northern California DX Club will again host IDXC 2027 at the Wyndham Hotel in Visalia.
We feel that Visalia provides the best value to our vendors and attendees and is centrally located within the region."
“We want to thank all of our vendors and attendees for visiting IDXC 2025. We all had a great time.
Our organizing team is already meeting and in the early planning stages for IDXC 2027."
“Save the dates for IDXC 2027: March 12-14, 2027."
“Please keep an eye on our website for updates and further announcements."
“Today, we are delighted to announce the following: Convention Registration will open on November 16."
“Hotel Reservations will open on October 1. We have negotiated a special convention rate at the Wyndham Hotel."
In the future, we will be announcing:
1) Participating Hotels
2) Convention Registration
3) Speakers and Programs
4) Major Prizes
5) Hourly Prizes
6) Optional programs such as Contest Academy and DX Academy
7) Friday Dinners
8) Exhibitors displaying their latest products.”
The ARRL National Convention is being held in Huntsville, Alabama, this year. For those going to Huntsville, ARRL is hosting a “Mini CTU” as part of the national convention training tracks. If you’ve been to Contest University in Dayton, this is being run and put together by Tim Duffy, K3LR, and DXEngineering, so expect the same fit and finish. I always learn something new at CTU, and expect the same at the Mini CTU in Huntsville. You can register for Mini CTU at www.arrl.org/expo. Here’s the agenda:
Mini Contest University (Mini CTU) – sponsored by DX Engineering
This marks the first time Mini Contest University (Mini CTU) is coming to Huntsville.
Registrants will learn from some veteran amateur radio contesters.
This Mini CTU will appeal to new and veteran contesters alike who are looking to hone their skills.
Presenters cover general contest operations, contesting skills, and many resources and tools to get more out of contesting.
This training is sponsored by DX Engineering.
Track Leader: Tim Duffy, K3LR
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8:30 AM: “Contest Operating Techniques & Strategies” by Kirk, K4RO
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9:30 AM: “Contest Station Design” by Trina, NR4L, & Ron, WV4P
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10:30 AM: “Mobile Contesting” by Jim, AD4EB
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1:15 PM: “Organizing a Winning Field Day” by Laura, K4CNY
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2:15 PM: “VHF & Rover Contesting” by Chris, NV4B
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3:15 PM: “Multi-Operator Fun at K3LR” by Tim, K3LR
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4:30 PM: END
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Quantity Beats Quality
In the world of contesting, quantity beats quality when it comes to skills development. The easiest way to improve your skills is to just do more contests. It can be easy to decide not to do a contest for whatever reason. But choosing to just get on the air, even for only a couple hours or a hundred QSOs, will snowball over time and make you a better operator.
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Your 2026 WRTC Organizing Committee. They are all happy to have some free time for the first time in 3 years. [Lukas Bartkus, LY7J, photo] | | | |
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Preliminary LCRs have been sent out to those high-scoring entrants in the ARRL Digital and June VHF contests, meaning web results will be live very soon. Be on the lookout!
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Set your TX EQ Properly
“Good audio for a contest is not going to be broadcast grade. Make sure you have a nice-looking EQ to cut out low frequencies on your SSB audio, giving your signal a bit more punch in the pileup.”
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Technical Topics and Discussion |
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IEEE Spectrum has a neat article about light pollution
and the use of LEDs in major cities. While you might not think about it often, light pollution is a problem for us radio amateurs. Poorly planned streetlight upgrades can raise our noise floor quite significantly.
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I had a ton of fun participating in the 2026 World Radiosport Team Championship.
We hit our goal of not coming in last place, and the activity on the bands was extremely high.
In addition to the actual contest, WRTC is a big meeting of the minds for those in contesting.
I saw so many people from Europe who I’ve worked with Contest Updatebut never met.
The conversations that occur before and after the contest are also quite interesting.
Nowhere else in the world do you get such an international group of adept operators together able to talk shop about amateur radio contesting.
This’ll be the last issue of Contest Update where we talk about the WRTC 2026 event, and hopefully in a future issue we’ll start gearing up for WRTC 2030, which will be the 40th anniversary.
I am quite excited for the rest of the year of contesting.
I think Mini CTU will be a really well-run event at Huntsville, and I hope to see some of you all there.
Band conditions are starting to worsen as we get closer to the solar minimum, but that just makes contests much more competitive, since bands like 10 meters may only get a short opening during the whole contest.
I hope to hear you all on the bands as soon as NAQP CW, and of course for all the major HF contests.
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That's all for this time. Remember to send contesting-related stories, book reviews, tips, techniques, press releases, errata, schematics, club information, pictures, stories, blog links, and predictions to contest-update@arrl.org.
73, Max, N4ML
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July 23, 2026 - August 5, 2026
An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral
is available as a PDF. Check the sponsors' website for information on operating time restrictions and other instructions.
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HF Contests
CWops Test (CWT), Jul 23, 0300z to Jul 23, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 25.
CWops Test (CWT), Jul 23, 0700z to Jul 23, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 25.
RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data, Jul 23, 1900z to Jul 23, 2030z; RTTY, PSK; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 24.
QRP Fox Hunt, Jul 24, 0100z to Jul 24, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Jul 25.
NCCC FT4 Sprint, Jul 24, 0100z to Jul 24, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Jul 26.
Weekly RTTY Test, Jul 24, 0145z to Jul 24, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 26.
NCCC Sprint, Jul 24, 0230z to Jul 24, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Jul 26.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Jul 24, 2000z to Jul 24, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 26.
RSGB IOTA Contest, Jul 25, 1200z to Jul 26, 1200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + Serial No. + IOTA No.(if applicable); Logs due: Jul 31.
ARS Flight of the Bumblebees, Jul 26, 1700z to Jul 26, 2100z; CW; Bands: 40, 20, 15, 10; Home: RST + (state/province/country) + Power, Bumblebee: RST + (state/province/country) + Bumblebee no.; Logs due: Aug 9.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Jul 27, 0000z to Jul 27, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 29.
QCX Challenge, Jul 27, 1300z to Jul 27, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Aug 2.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jul 27, 1300z to Jul 27, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jul 30.
OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Jul 27, 1630z to Jul 27, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 31.
QCX Challenge, Jul 27, 1900z to Jul 27, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Aug 2.
RSGB FT4 Contest, Jul 27, 1900z to Jul 27, 2100z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Signal report; Logs due: Jul 28.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jul 27, 1900z to Jul 27, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jul 30.
Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Jul 28, 0100z to Jul 28, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Jul 29.
QCX Challenge, Jul 28, 0300z to Jul 28, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Aug 2.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jul 28, 0300z to Jul 28, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jul 30.
Tuesday's Telegraphy Contest, Jul 28, 1930z to Jul 28, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 29.
Phone Weekly Test, Jul 29, 0230z to Jul 29, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Jul 31.
A1Club AWT, Jul 29, 1145z to Jul 29, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Aug 3.
CWops Test (CWT), Jul 29, 1300z to Jul 29, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 1.
Mini-Test 40, Jul 29, 1700z to Jul 29, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 31.
Mini-Test 80, Jul 29, 1800z to Jul 29, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 31.
CWops Test (CWT), Jul 29, 1900z to Jul 29, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 1.
CWops Test (CWT), Jul 30, 0300z to Jul 30, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 1.
CWops Test (CWT), Jul 30, 0700z to Jul 30, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 1.
QRP Fox Hunt, Jul 31, 0100z to Jul 31, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Aug 1.
NCCC FT4 Sprint, Jul 31, 0100z to Jul 31, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 2.
Weekly RTTY Test, Jul 31, 0145z to Jul 31, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 2.
NCCC Sprint, Jul 31, 0230z to Jul 31, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Aug 2.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Jul 31, 2000z to Jul 31, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 2.
10-10 Int. Summer Contest, SSB, Aug 1, 0001z to Aug 2, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 10; 10-10 Member: Name + 10-10 number + (state/province/country), Non-Member: Name + 0 + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 10.
European HF Championship, Aug 1, 1200z to Aug 1, 2359z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + 2-digit year first licensed; Logs due: Aug 3.
North American QSO Party, CW, Aug 1, 1800z to Aug 2, 0559z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; NA: Name + (state/DC/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Aug 9.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Aug 3, 0000z to Aug 3, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 5.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 3, 1300z to Aug 3, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 6.
OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Aug 3, 1630z to Aug 3, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 7.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 3, 1900z to Aug 3, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 6.
ARS Spartan Sprint, Aug 4, 0000z to Aug 4, 0200z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: Aug 6.
Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Aug 4, 0100z to Aug 4, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Aug 5.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 4, 0300z to Aug 4, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 6.
ZL Sprint, Aug 4, 0800z to Aug 4, 0929z; CW, SSB, FT4; Bands: 80; CW/SSB: RS(T) + Outside Temperature (C), FT4: 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 5.
Tuesday's Telegraphy Contest, Aug 4, 1930z to Aug 4, 2020z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 5.
Phone Weekly Test, Aug 5, 0230z to Aug 5, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Aug 7.
A1Club AWT, Aug 5, 1145z to Aug 5, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Aug 10.
CWops Test (CWT), Aug 5, 1300z to Aug 5, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 8.
Mini-Test 40, Aug 5, 1700z to Aug 5, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 7.
Mini-Test 80, Aug 5, 1800z to Aug 5, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 7.
CWops Test (CWT), Aug 5, 1900z to Aug 5, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 8.
VHF-UHF Contests
ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest, Aug 1, 1800z to Aug 2, 1800z; Any; Bands: 222 MHz and up; 6-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 16.
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Aug 5, 1700z to Aug 5, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 144 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 8.
Also, see Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, above.
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July 23, 2026 - August 5, 2026
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July 23
July 24
July 25
July 26
July 27
July 28
July 29
July 30
July 31
August 1
August 2
August 3
August 5
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ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest Calendar.
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