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Upcoming Contests – Things to Do |
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Coming up in the next two weeks are a ton of fun contests for both HF and VHF+ contesters. As we get close to fall, where propagation becomes favorable, more and more weekends get filled with fun and interesting contests.
The first of the Worked All Europe (WAE) contests is this upcoming weekend. This is the CW running of the event, and WAE is known for its unique QTC element. A QTC is a record of a previous contact, which gets sent to another station in blocks of up to ten QTC records. Stations outside of Europe send these to those in Europe, and both parties get bonus points. Sending QTC traffic is a unique experience, and really adds a special element to WAE.
On the same weekend, the ARRL International EME contest has its first weekend of activity. EME stands for Earth-moon-Earth, and is an operating mode involving bouncing signals off the moon to allow for worldwide communications on bands 50 MHz and above. EME is a difficult mode to make contacts on, and the contest weekend is one of the best ways to rack up contacts quickly!
For those in North America, the SSB weekend for the North American QSO Party (NAQP) is August 15. NAQP is a great contest no matter what your goals are. It’s only 12 hours, and the exchange is name and state; making it a “friendly” contest. The potential for high rates is always good for anyone in any location, so if you want to work a big pileup, this is your chance.
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I was informed that I missed the Alabama QSO Party in the last contest update. I apologize to the organizers for this mistake! I’ve figured out why it got omitted, and it shouldn’t happen for future events.
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August 6, 2026 - August 19, 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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August 6
August 7
August 8
August 10
August 11
August 12
August 13
August 14
August 15
August 16
August 17
August 18
August 19
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News, Press Releases, and Special Interest |
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The DX Marathon is a very neat contest of sorts. The DX Marathon scores all participants by the amount of DX Entities they work over a full year, making it a great way to stay engaged with DXing, whether you’re new to that part of the hobby, or have worked them all already. The DX Marathon can take your existing logs, put them all together, and you can make an entry; no special exchanges or rules. You can find out more about the DX Marathon at their website. This is a great way to take your year of contest operations and contextualize it in the world of DX!
Light news week, but as always, if you have anything newsworthy or otherwise interesting, feel free to send it to contest-update@arrl.org.
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There’s always a way to win
In a contest like CQWW, there is a fixed amount of overall winners. There can only be one winner for Single Operator, High Power. That’s not the only way to contextualize a win, though. Winning a contest for you could be winning your country, call area, or contest club. A win could also be doing better than last year’s attempt, or getting on in the first place.
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“I worked a few guys in NAQP CW on the broken-in-half Spiderbeam lying on the ground before I realized I was on the wrong antenna.” [Christopher Hurlbut, KL9A, photo] | | | |
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Push-to-Pass
“What’s the easiest way to get more mults? Pass the mults that work you to bands you need them. If they called you, they’ll probably be more than happy to get a new band from your station, and you get a multiplier that you might not otherwise get.”
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Technical Topics and Discussion |
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Visualizing the results of your contest effort can be as simple as looking at the Cabrillo file, or as complex as custom tooling. Jim, K5ND, has a great post on his blog
showcasing one of these more complex tools. Gridzilla is able to show a playback of the different grids he worked on the various VHF bands during the ARRL June VHF contest. Give the article a read, and check out the site for your own VHF contest results map.
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The contest season is starting to ramp up, with NAQPs, WAE, and soon CQWW all starting their yearly events.
I try to do as many contests as I can, because I tend to enjoy all different types of operating.
I’m already getting my calendar set up with the upcoming contests and what sort of effort I’ll put in. Living in an apartment, this means a lot of coordinating with station owners who have graciously given me places on their multi ops, and sometimes even given me the keys to the Ferrari and let me single op.
One day, when I do have a capable station, I hope to do the same for others.
As is always said, the best way to improve your contest skills is by operating contests, so having that opportunity has been amazing.
If you own a station and don’t always enter a contest, consider opening up your doors to some local operators; you’ll be pleased with the results they give to your station, and the work they’re willing to put in to help keep the station running.
Looking ahead, I think this will be a great year for North and South American contest stations.
We’re in the downturn of the solar cycle, but not at the bottom; propagation can get weird, and favor stations that don’t perform well during the peaks or troughs.
No records will be broken with these conditions, but I think the results will be a nice shake-up from the norm.
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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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August 6, 2026 - August 19, 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
Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Aug 6, 0000z to Aug 7, 0300z; CW; Bands: 40; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Aug 13.
CWops Test (CWT), Aug 6, 0300z to Aug 6, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 8.
CWops Test (CWT), Aug 6, 0700z to Aug 6, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 8.
SKCC Sprint Europe, Aug 6, 2000z to Aug 6, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Aug 13.
QRP Fox Hunt, Aug 7, 0100z to Aug 7, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Aug 8.
NCCC FT4 Sprint, Aug 7, 0100z to Aug 7, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 9.
Weekly RTTY Test, Aug 7, 0145z to Aug 7, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 9.
NCCC Sprint Ladder, Aug 7, 0230z to Aug 7, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Aug 9.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Aug 7, 2000z to Aug 7, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 9.
WAE DX Contest, CW, Aug 8, 0000z to Aug 9, 2359z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 17.
SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Aug 8, 1200z to Aug 9, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Aug 16.
Maryland-DC QSO Party, Aug 8, 1400z to Aug 9, 0400z; CW, Phone; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; MDC: county/city, non-MDC: (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 23.
4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, Aug 10, 0000z to Aug 10, 0200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RS(T) + (State/Province/Country) + Member No., Non-member: RS(T) + (State/Province/Country) + Power; Logs due: Aug 12.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Aug 10, 0000z to Aug 10, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 12.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 10, 1300z to Aug 10, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 13.
OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Aug 10, 1630z to Aug 10, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 14.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 10, 1900z to Aug 10, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 13.
Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Aug 11, 0100z to Aug 11, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Aug 12.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 11, 0300z to Aug 11, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 13.
ZL Sprint, Aug 11, 0800z to Aug 11, 0929z; CW, SSB, FT4; Bands: 80; CW/SSB: RS(T) + Outside Temperature (C), FT4: 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 12.
DARC FT4 Contest, Aug 11, 1900z to Aug 11, 2029z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40; Signal report + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 18.
Tuesday's Telegraphy Contest, Aug 11, 1930z to Aug 11, 2020z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 12.
NAQCC CW Sprint, Aug 12, 0030z to Aug 12, 0230z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RST + (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: Aug 15.
Phone Weekly Test, Aug 12, 0230z to Aug 12, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Aug 14.
A1Club AWT, Aug 12, 1145z to Aug 12, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Aug 17.
CWops Test (CWT), Aug 12, 1300z to Aug 12, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 15.
Mini-Test 40, Aug 12, 1700z to Aug 12, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 14.
Mini-Test 80, Aug 12, 1800z to Aug 12, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 14.
CWops Test (CWT), Aug 12, 1900z to Aug 12, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 15.
CWops Test (CWT), Aug 13, 0300z to Aug 13, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 15.
CWops Test (CWT), Aug 13, 0700z to Aug 13, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 15.
QRP Fox Hunt, Aug 14, 0100z to Aug 14, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Aug 15.
NCCC FT4 Sprint, Aug 14, 0100z to Aug 14, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 16.
Weekly RTTY Test, Aug 14, 0145z to Aug 14, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 16.
NCCC Sprint Ladder, Aug 14, 0230z to Aug 14, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Aug 16.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Aug 14, 2000z to Aug 14, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 16.
SARTG WW RTTY Contest, Aug 15, 0000z to Aug 16, 1600z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 12.
Russian District Award Contest, Aug 15, 0800z to Aug 16, 0800z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RU: RS(T) + District code, non-RU: RS(T) + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 31.
ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest, Aug 15, 0900z to Aug 17, 0759z; Any; Bands: 10 GHz to light; 6-Character Maidenhead Locator; Logs due: Oct 21.
Keyman's Club of Japan Contest, Aug 15, 1200z to Aug 16, 1200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; JA: RST + prefecture/district code, non-JA: RST + CQ zone; Logs due: Sep 1.
SARL Youth QSO Party, Aug 15, 1200z to Aug 15, 1300z; SSB; Bands: 40; RS + age; Logs due: Aug 20.
Feld Hell Sprint, Aug 15, 1600z to Aug 15, 1759z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; (see rules); Logs due: Aug 19.
North American QSO Party, SSB, Aug 15, 1800z to Aug 16, 0559z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; NA: Name + (state/DC/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Aug 23.
CVA DX Contest, CW, Aug 15, 1800z to Aug 16, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Brazil: RST + state, Non-Brazil: RST + continent, Military: RST + "MIL"; Logs due: Aug 23.
YB Bekasi Merdeka Contest, Aug 16, 0000z to Aug 16, 2359z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; YB: RS(T) + Serial No., non-YB: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 23.
NJQRP Skeeter Hunt, Aug 16, 1700z to Aug 16, 2100z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Skeeter: RS(T) + (state/province/country)+ Skeeter No., Non-Skeeter: RS(T) + (state/province/country)+ Power + "W"; Logs due: Aug 30.
ARRL Rookie Roundup, RTTY, Aug 16, 1800z to Aug 16, 2359z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; NA: Name + 2-digit year first licensed + (state/province/XE area/DX); Logs due: Aug 19.
Run for the Bacon QRP Contest, Aug 16, 2300z to Aug 17, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs due: Aug 22.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Aug 17, 0000z to Aug 17, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 19.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 17, 1300z to Aug 17, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 20.
OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Aug 17, 1630z to Aug 17, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 21.
RSGB FT4 Contest, Aug 17, 1900z to Aug 17, 2100z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Signal report; Logs due: Aug 18.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 17, 1900z to Aug 17, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 20.
Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Aug 18, 0100z to Aug 18, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Aug 19.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 18, 0300z to Aug 18, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 20.
ZL Sprint, Aug 18, 0800z to Aug 18, 0929z; CW, SSB, FT4; Bands: 80; CW/SSB: RS(T) + Outside Temperature (C), FT4: 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 19.
Tuesday's Telegraphy Contest, Aug 18, 1930z to Aug 18, 2020z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 19.
Phone Weekly Test, Aug 19, 0230z to Aug 19, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Aug 21.
A1Club AWT, Aug 19, 1145z to Aug 19, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Aug 24.
CWops Test (CWT), Aug 19, 1300z to Aug 19, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 22.
Mini-Test 40, Aug 19, 1700z to Aug 19, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 21.
Mini-Test 80, Aug 19, 1800z to Aug 19, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 21.
CWops Test (CWT), Aug 19, 1900z to Aug 19, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 22.
VHF-UHF Contests
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA, Aug 6, 0000z to Aug 6, 0500z; FT8/4; Bands: 144; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 11.
ARRL EME Contest, Aug 8, 0000z to Aug 9, 2359z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 50 MHz and up; 4-character grid square (standard signal report acceptable for analog modes if grid square not possible); Logs due: Dec 29.
MMMonVHF/DUBUS 144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest, Aug 12, 0700z to Aug 14, 0700z; Any; Bands: 2; Signal report; Logs due: Sep 15.
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Aug 12, 1700z to Aug 12, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 432 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 15.
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA, Aug 13, 0000z to Aug 13, 0500z; FT8/4; Bands: 432; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 18.
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Aug 19, 1700z to Aug 19, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 1.2G; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 22.
Also, see SKCC Sprint Europe, SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest, Keyman's Club of Japan Contest and Feld Hell Sprint, above.
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August 6, 2026 - August 19, 2026
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August 6
August 7
August 8
August 9
August 10
August 11
August 12
August 13
August 14
August 15
August 16
August 17
August 18
August 19
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ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest Calendar.
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