If you haven’t signed up for the 2026 edition of Contest University (CTU), there’s still time to participate in a day of learning that will leave you with valuable insights to improve your station and on-air skills.
Registration will be open for several more weeks. Click here and sign up now if you don’t want to miss out. The 17th edition of this information-packed event will be Thursday, May 14, 7 am to 5 pm at the Hope Hotel on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio. It’s just a short path (about 35 minutes) from the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, the site of Dayton Hamvention® (May 15-17).
Contest University is made possible through these sponsors: DX Engineering, Icom, Yasme Foundation, Northern California DX Foundation, Radio Club of America, QTH.com, INDEXA (International DX Association), Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), World Wide Radio Operators Foundation, and Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio, as well as through the hard work and dedication of K8MNJ, K3MNJ, N8AMY, and DL1QQ.
Need some encouragement to register? Watch this video from Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio’s YouTube channel featuring Tim Duffy, K3LR, DX Engineering CEO and CTU host, explaining why Contest University is a not-to-be-missed event on the ham radio calendar.
To give you an idea of the quality of CTU content and activities, watch videos and view PDF presentations from past years on the CTU website. Also visit DXEngineering.com for Contest University Textbooks, including the 2025 edition.
Here is a list of this year’s professors:
- Tim Duffy, K3LR
- Fred Lass, K2TR
- Hal Kennedy, N4GG
- Bill Fehring, W9KKN
- Frank Donovan, W3LPL
- Ed Muns, W0YK
- Rob Sherwood, NC0B
- Robert Wilson, N6TV
- Tim Jellison, W3YQ
- Doug Grant, K1DG
- Violetta Latham, KN2P
- Randy Thompson, K5ZD
- John Dorr, K1AR
- A.J. Stockton, NK4O
The 2026 lineup of topics offers something for all contesters. Here’s just a sampling of what will be covered:
- How to Maintain and Take Care of Your Contest Station
- Design Approach and Lessons Learned on Building My New Contest Station
- Efficient Operating Techniques, Tactics, and Secrets
- The Art of Enjoying Both POTA and Contesting Together
- Tower Safety with Tim Jellison, W3YQ
- Station Automation Techniques
- Adding In-Band Station(s) for Contesting
- Effective Antennas for Contesting
- Latest Performance and Feature Differences Among Top Radios with Bob Sherwood, NC0B
View the entire Contest University schedule here.
Along with all the educational benefits, participants get a chance to make eyeball QSOs with others in the contesting community and much more.
The $85 registration fee includes:
- Full day of training and knowledge enhancement for both beginners and advanced contesters
- Breakfast buffet and boxed lunch (vegetarian option available)
- Coffee and cookies during break
- Printed textbook and class notes. Access to color slide decks. (Guaranteed for the first 300 registrants.)
- Handouts, catalogs, and a CTU carry bag. (Guaranteed for the first 300 registrants.)
- Personalized “Certificate of Completion” suitable for framing! (Guaranteed for everyone registered by April 6th, 2026.)
- CTU T-shirt. (Guaranteed for everyone registered by April 6th, 2026.)
- You are also invited to the Wednesday Night Pizza Party at the Hope Hotel
There are no sign-ups at the door and no refunds due to cancelations. Scholarships (registration fee) is available for those 25 years old or younger. Contact us for details.
If you have presented or will present a talk or a paper at any club meeting, or have an article about amateur radio published, between May 15, 2025, and May 13, 2026, you qualify for a $10 registration fee discount.
Past participants will tell you it’s a fun day to feel good about the hobby we’re all passionate about, while taking home information that can take your contesting to the next level. Get complete details here.
The post Register Today for Contest University, May 14, 2026! Here’s a Preview of What to Expect. appeared first on OnAllBands.