Contest Update Issue

The ARRL Contest Update for July 8, 2026 undefined

July 8, 2026


	ARRL Home Page


	Contest Calendar

In this Issue:

Upcoming Contests – Things to Do
Contest Summary
News, Press Releases, and Special Interest
Word to the Wise
Club Focus
Sights and Sounds
Results and Records
Operating Tip
Technical Topics and Discussion
Conversation
Contests
Log Due Dates

Upcoming Contests – Things to Do

We’re in the slow doldrums of summer, which is between our two major contest seasons, however there’s still plenty of great contests to get involved with this weekend. The highlight is the IARU HF Championship. This year’s running is special thanks to the 2026 World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC), so activity will be enhanced by their participation. Get on the air if you can and give those folks the QSO in the log! WRTC2026.org has all the latest news and information regarding WRTC, how to see the real-time scoreboard of the competitors, and newly announced daily video updates from the team in Wyboston!

Looking ahead after the IARU and WRTC, July 18 marks the kickoff of the second set of North American QSO Parties, with NAQP RTTY. This is a great first contest to rev your station back up and make sure everything is still working the way it should be, and RTTY is a fun mode for contests.

Contest Summary

July 9, 2026 - July 22, 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.

July 9

July 10

July 11

July 12

QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew Sprint

July 13

July 14

July 15

July 16

July 17

July 18

July 19

July 20

July 21

July 22

News, Press Releases, and Special Interest

WRTC is the hot news item. All of the teams are getting ready, collecting their gear, and traveling over to the UK. I personally am a competitor at this WRTC, part of Youth #3 with my team lead Willow, W7WLW. Everything you hear about the competition requiring a lot of practice, equipment, and support is true. Our own effort in the competition is enabled by the experienced contest mentors we both have around us, stations we’ve been able to use for practice, and the manufacturers who have helped us out on gear. The WRTC volunteer team is setting everything up for the event despite the heat wave happening in the EU. So, see you all either over there in person or on the air!

Speaking of WRTC, Joe, OZ0J, has created an HQ multiplier list for IARU HF. He wrote to the CQ-Contest email list:

“Dear all,

Together with N6TV, Bob, I will create an HQ multiplier list for the upcoming IARU HF Championship contest in July.

The first list for 2026 can be found at:

www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3089f47sg5v0n1n8z7kej/HQ2026.txt?rlkey=8bnjmjkvbn5gepwugkc3i3ga6&dl=0

PLEASE SEND ERRORS AND UPDATES TO contest@oz0j.dk

I need update of calls from:

Japan

Italy

Stations sending multipliers from IARU Region 1, 2, 3, and AC

PF5X has informed me that the PA HQ stations will have different calls depending on the QTH area (like JA and Italy).

N6TV will publish the link for download of this year’s multiplier list. My text file above will NOT work.

There will be some changes from now and to the contest on July 11. Follow the mailing list for your log program.

Thank you.

73 Joe, OZ0J”

For those using any of the FlexRadio products, they have released a version cleanup statement:

“On June 26, 2026, FlexRadio will be performing a routine version cleanup across SmartSDR, FlexRadio M series radios, and Maestro Control Consoles. After this date, only the following software versions will be available:

Supported Versions After June 26

v4.2.20 (Latest release — recommended for all users)

v4.2.18

v4.1.5

v4.0.1

v3.10.15

v2.2.2

Already running one of the versions above? No action is required. Your radio will continue to operate normally.

If you are on a version not listed above, we recommend upgrading to SmartSDR v4.2.20 Basic before June 26. The upgrade is free for all FLEX-6000, FLEX-8000, and Aurora radio owners.

For Maestro and FlexRadio M model users, please note that all versions not on the list above will be automatically removed from your device on June 26. Upgrading to one of the supported versions before that date ensures uninterrupted operation.

Upgrading your radio should only take a few moments. If you are upgrading from a version prior to v4.2.20, please take the time to read the release notes — there are critical changes to DAX that may affect your setup.

We strongly recommend watching this overview video before you upgrade:

▶ Watch: SmartSDR v4.2.20 Overview & DAX Changes.”

Word to the Wise

Just Ask

As you get more confident in your operating skill and ability, you may want to go to some DX location or participate with one of the big multiops. Even if it looks like a closed circle of operators, almost everyone will give you a chance to be a part of their operation, you just have to ask.

Sights and Sounds

W3AO Field Day teardown! [Tyler Schroder, NT1S, photo]

Results and Records

The ARRL International Digital Contest and ARRL June VHF raw scores are out there! The digital contest saw 930 logs submitted before the deadline, with some really close scores for top 10 spots! Let’s see what the log checking process does for these scores… who will win? June VHF saw 1,196 logs submitted by the deadline, a great result for what was generally a just okay weekend of VHF conditions.

Operating Tip

Poke the Bands

“If your run slows down, or conditions on a band just feel wrong, go poke another band. Tune around and S&P and see if that band is a better place to be, and maybe switch!”

Technical Topics and Discussion

There was recently a great IEEE Spectrum article about AI-enabled RFIC design. AI definitely has its pros and cons (don’t ask it how many Rs are in strawberry), but it is rapidly progressing in ability.

Conversation

Hello to everyone! This is my first of many Contest Updates. Let me know what you think, and if you have any comments at all, please reach out. I am filling big shoes; Brian did an amazing job with the contest update, and my thanks to him for his contributions over the years and for helping me get ready to do this. He did a great job introducing me, no notes there.

My work at ARRL Headquarters has me between our education department, bringing programs like the Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology to life, and the Radiosport department. If you’ve noticed things running a bit faster, or those new preliminary LCRs, that’s part of what I’m bringing to improve our programming.

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

Contests

June 9, 2026 - July 22, 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.

HF Contests

CWops Test (CWT), Jul 9, 0300z to Jul 9, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 11.

CWops Test (CWT), Jul 9, 0700z to Jul 9, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 11.

QRP Fox Hunt, Jul 10, 0100z to Jul 10, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Jul 11.

NCCC FT4 Sprint, Jul 10, 0100z to Jul 10, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Jul 12.

Weekly RTTY Test, Jul 10, 0145z to Jul 10, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 12.

NCCC Sprint, Jul 10, 0230z to Jul 10, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Jul 12.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Jul 10, 2000z to Jul 10, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 12.

SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Jul 11, 1200z to Jul 12, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Jul 19.

IARU HF World Championship, Jul 11, 1200z to Jul 12, 1200z; CW, Phone; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; IARU HQ: RS(T) + IARU Society, Non-HQ: RS(T) + ITU Zone No.; Logs due: Jul 19.

QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew Sprint, Jul 12, 2000z to Jul 12, 2300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + (ARCI no./power); Logs due: Jul 26.

4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, Jul 13, 0000z to Jul 13, 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: Jul 15.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Jul 13, 0000z to Jul 13, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 15.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jul 13, 1300z to Jul 13, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jul 16.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Jul 13, 1630z to Jul 13, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 17.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jul 13, 1900z to Jul 13, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jul 16.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Jul 14, 0100z to Jul 14, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Jul 15.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jul 14, 0300z to Jul 14, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jul 16.

DARC RTTY Sprint, Jul 14, 1800z to Jul 14, 1929z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40; DL: RST + (DOK/"NM"), non-DL: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 21.

Tuesday's Telegraphy Contest, Jul 14, 1930z to Jul 14, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 15.

Phone Weekly Test, Jul 15, 0230z to Jul 15, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Jul 17.

A1Club AWT, Jul 15, 1145z to Jul 15, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Jul 20.

CWops Test (CWT), Jul 15, 1300z to Jul 15, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 18.

Mini-Test 40, Jul 15, 1700z to Jul 15, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 17.

Mini-Test 80, Jul 15, 1800z to Jul 15, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 17.

RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB, Jul 15, 1900z to Jul 15, 2030z; SSB; Bands: 80; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 16.

CWops Test (CWT), Jul 15, 1900z to Jul 15, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 18.

Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Jul 16, 0000z to Jul 17, 0300z; CW; Bands: 20; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Jul 23.

NAQCC CW Sprint, Jul 16, 0030z to Jul 16, 0230z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RST + (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: Jul 19.

CWops Test (CWT), Jul 16, 0300z to Jul 16, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 18.

CWops Test (CWT), Jul 16, 0700z to Jul 16, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 18.

NTC QSO Party, Jul 16, 1900z to Jul 16, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; NTC Member: RST + Member No., non-Member: RST + "NM", Less than 25 wpm; Logs due: Jul 20.

QRP Fox Hunt, Jul 17, 0100z to Jul 17, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Jul 18.

NCCC FT4 Sprint, Jul 17, 0100z to Jul 17, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Jul 19.

Weekly RTTY Test, Jul 17, 0145z to Jul 17, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 19.

NCCC Sprint, Jul 17, 0230z to Jul 17, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Jul 19.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Jul 17, 2000z to Jul 17, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 19.

LABRE DX Contest, Jul 18, 0000z to Jul 19, 2359z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Brazilian: RS(T) + 2-letter state, Non-Brazilian: RS(T) + 2-letter continent; Logs due: Jul 24.

Russian Radio Team Championship, Jul 18, 0700z to Jul 18, 1459z; CW, SSB; Bands: 40, 20, 15, 10; RRTC: RS(T) + 3-character code, Non-RRTC: RS(T) + ITU Zone No.; Logs due: Jul 18.

Trans-Tasman Low-Bands Challenge, Jul 18, 0800z to Jul 18, 1400z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40; RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 25.

Feld Hell Sprint, Jul 18, 1200z to Jul 18, 1359z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; (see rules); Logs due: Jul 22.

IARU Region 1 70 MHz Contest, Jul 18, 1400z to Jul 19, 1400z; CW, SSB; Bands: 70 MHz; RS(T) + QSO No. + 6-character grid square; Logs due: Jul 22.

North American QSO Party, RTTY, Jul 18, 1800z to Jul 19, 0559z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; NA: Name + (state/DC/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Jul 26.

RSGB International Low Power Contest, Jul 19, 0900z to Jul 19, 1600z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RST + Serial No. + Power; Logs due: Jul 24.

YOTA Contest, Jul 19, 1000z to Jul 19, 2159z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Single Op: RS(T) + age (on Jan 1 of year of contest), Multi-Op: RS(T) + average age of ops (on Jan 1 of year of contest); Logs due: Jul 26.

Run for the Bacon QRP Contest, Jul 19, 2300z to Jul 20, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs due: Jul 25.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Jul 20, 0000z to Jul 20, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 22.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jul 20, 1300z to Jul 20, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jul 23.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Jul 20, 1630z to Jul 20, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 24.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jul 20, 1900z to Jul 20, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jul 23.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Jul 21, 0100z to Jul 21, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Jul 22.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jul 21, 0300z to Jul 21, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jul 23.

Tuesday's Telegraphy Contest, Jul 21, 1930z to Jul 21, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 22.

SKCC Sprint, Jul 22, 0000z to Jul 22, 0200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Jul 25.

Phone Weekly Test, Jul 22, 0230z to Jul 22, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Jul 24.

A1Club AWT, Jul 22, 1145z to Jul 22, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Jul 27.

CWops Test (CWT), Jul 22, 1300z to Jul 22, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 25.

Mini-Test 40, Jul 22, 1700z to Jul 22, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 24.

Mini-Test 80, Jul 22, 1800z to Jul 22, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jul 24.

CWops Test (CWT), Jul 22, 1900z to Jul 22, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jul 25.

VHF-UHF Contests

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA, Jul 9, 0000z to Jul 9, 0500z; FT8/4; Bands: 432; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Jul 14.

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Jul 15, 1700z to Jul 15, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 1.2G; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Jul 18.

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA, Jul 16, 0000z to Jul 16, 0500z; FT8/4; Bands: 1296; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Jul 21.

CQ Worldwide VHF Digital Contest, Jul 18, 1400z to Jul 19, 1400z; Digital; Bands: 6, 2; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Jul 24.

Also, see SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Feld Hell Sprint and SKCC Sprint, above.

Also, see SKCC Sprint Europe, FOC Old School Classic 1960s QSO Party, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest and SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, above.

Log Due Dates

July 9, 2026 - July 22, 2026

July 9

July 10

July 11

July 12

July 13

July 14

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA

July 15

July 16

July 17

July 18

July 19

July 20

July 21

July 22

ARRL Information

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Acknowledgements

ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest Calendar.

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