NA4DA – Andy Allen

A Guide to June 2026 Ham Radio Contests—Field Day Edition

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With May’s downpour of amateur radio activities done for the year, it’s time to focus on the next big event on the ham calendar—ARRL Field Day 2026.

OnAllBands has been featuring gear you’ll want to consider adding to your Field Day (June 27-28) essentials, including:

TransWorld Antenna Pacakge
Here’s the DX Engineering TW Antenna 5-Band (20-10M) Globetrotter Package. DX Engineering has manufactured and sold these highly portable, simple-to-install, and proven antennas ever since acquiring the TransWorld Antennas brand ten years ago. (Image/DX Engineering)

Watch how fast and easy it is to deploy a TW antenna in this video from the DX Engineering YouTube channel:

Some good advice for Field Day newbies: Don’t wait until the day before the event to make sure you’ve got everything on your prep list. DX Engineering has everything you could possibly need to maximize your group’s performance on Field Day, no matter what your goals are for the weekend. While the weather and band conditions are out of our hands, here are a few other products you may want to add to your Field Day shopping list:

Join the Star-Spangled Celebration!

This year’s Field Day theme combines America’s 250th birthday with amateur radio’s continuing role in emergency communications and public service: “Amateur Radio: A National Resource.” You can help promote amateur radio wherever you go with Field Day 2026 swag from the ARRL. Available at DX Engineering, Field Day 2026 T-shirts, ball caps, mugs, and other items let you show off your pride in America and the amateur radio service:

Amateur Radio Field Day Shirt
(Image/ARRL)
Amateur Radio Field Day Hat
(Image/ARRL)
Amateur Radio Field Day Mug
(Image/ARRL)

Also find the ARRL 2026 Field Day patch, drawstring bag, pin, notebook, and bucket hat (below) at DX Engineering.

Amateur Radio Field Day Boonie Hat
(Image/ARRL)

Contest Time!

While you’re gathering what you’ll need for a successful Field Day 2026, be sure to take some time to keep your skills sharp by participating in an array of contests in June.

  • ARRL International Digital Contest: June 6, 1800Z to June 7, 2400Z. Amateurs worldwide contact and exchange QSO information with other amateurs using any digital mode (excluding RTTY) that supports the 4-digit grid square exchange—attended operation only—on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 and 6 meters. Technicians are limited per FCC Rules to 10 and 6 meters.
  • VK Shires Contest: June 6, 0000Z to 2359Z. Per the contest website, the objective of this CW/SSB contest, sponsored by the Wireless Institute of Australia, is for amateurs around the world to contact as many “VK shires as possible in the contest period. VK amateurs are to work the world including VK, whilst the rest of the world can only work VK.”
  • Atlantic Canada QSO Party: June 7, 1400Z to June 8, 0100Z. This is a fun, no-pressure contest that encourages Atlantic Canada stations to work everyone, and non-Atlantic Canada stations (U.S./Canada/DX) to work Atlantic Canada stations. Atlantic Canada stations are located in the provinces of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia—amateur radio prefixes VO1/2, VY2, VE9, and VA/VE1.
  • Portugal Day Contest: June 13, 1200Z to June 14, 1200Z. This SSB/CW 80-10M event, sponsored by the Redo dos Emissores Portuguesses, is held annually in honor of Portugal Day. Portugal Day commemorates the life of poet and national literary hero Lus de Cames, who died June 10, 1580. He is most remembered for his epic poem about Portuguese history and achievements, “Os Lusiadas.” This National Day of Portugal is celebrated in communities around the globe, including several U.S. cities. The contest is open to hams worldwide.
     
  • ARRL June VHF Contest: June 13, 1800Z to June 15, 0259Z. The objective is for amateurs in the U.S. and Canada to work as many stations in as many different 2-degree x 1-degree Maidenhead grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. All legal modes are permitted.
  • ARRL Kids Day: June 20, 1800Z to 2359Z. Here’s a great chance to introduce a son, daughter, or grandchild to the thrill of ham radio. Why not let the young people in your life experience the same excitement you felt when making your first QSOs? ARRL Kids Day is also an important time to remind ourselves that the future of ham radio rests in getting youth pumped up about the fun and practical aspects of this great hobby.

For some great advice on encouraging young operators, read “Strategies Beyond Recruitment: A Plan to Engage Newly Licensed Hams” by OnAllBands blogger Violetta, KN2P.

  • All Asian DX Contest, CW: June 20, 0000Z to June 21, 2400Z. Sponsored by the Japan Amateur Radio League, this annual event is for both Asian and non-Asian stations making CW QSOs on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.
  • Stew Perry Topband Challenge: June 20, 1500Z to June 21, 1500Z. Hams can enter this annual 160 meter, CW-only contest as single operator or multi-operator; high, low, or QRP power. High power is 1,500 watts output or whatever you can legally run in your country, whichever is less. Low power is 100 watts or less output. QRP is 5 watts or less, per the Stew Perry website. The challenge uniquely awards QSO point values based on distance between stations. Click here for complete rules.

Also check out these state QSO parties:

  • Kentucky: June 6, 1300Z to June 7, 0100Z
  • West Virginia: June 20, 1600Z to June 21, 0400Z

The post A Guide to June 2026 Ham Radio Contests—Field Day Edition appeared first on OnAllBands.

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