What are the biggest ham radio contests?

The biggest ham radio contests by participation are CQ WW DX SSB (October), CQ WW DX CW (November), and ARRL Field Day (June). CQ WW typically has 30,000+ participants worldwide. ARRL Field Day is the largest North American event with clubs setting up portable stations.

Can beginners participate in ham radio contests?

Yes. ARRL Field Day (June) is specifically designed to be beginner-friendly. NAQP (North American QSO Party) limits power to 100W and runs only 12 hours, making it accessible. The ARRL 10m Contest in December allows Technician-class operators to use SSB on 10 meters.

Ham Radio Contest Calendar

Major HF contests and events throughout the year. Check band conditions before operating.

Dates are typical weekends — always verify with the contest sponsor for exact dates and rules.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

January

ARRL RTTY Roundup

RTTY/Digital

Sponsor: ARRL Duration: 30 hours Bands: HF

Digital mode contest. Great for FT8 operators.

CQ WW 160m CW

CW 160m

Sponsor: CQ Magazine Duration: 42 hours Bands: 160m

Top Band specialists only. Nighttime operating.

North American QSO Party (NAQP) CW

Sponsor: NCJ Duration: 12 hours Bands: HF

100W max. Fun, accessible contest.

February

CQ WW 160m SSB

SSB 160m

Sponsor: CQ Magazine Duration: 42 hours Bands: 160m

SSB on Top Band. Challenging but rewarding.

ARRL DX CW

Sponsor: ARRL Duration: 48 hours Bands: HF

US/Canada work the world. Major DX contest.

North American QSO Party (NAQP) SSB

SSB

Sponsor: NCJ Duration: 12 hours Bands: HF

100W max. Beginner-friendly.

March

ARRL DX SSB

SSB

Sponsor: ARRL Duration: 48 hours Bands: HF

US/Canada work the world on phone. Huge participation.

CQ WPX SSB

SSB

Sponsor: CQ Magazine Duration: 48 hours Bands: HF

Work unique prefixes worldwide. One of the biggest contests.

April Current

POTA Support Your Parks

All

Sponsor: POTA Duration: Weekend Bands: All

Special POTA activation weekend. Big activator turnout.

Florida QSO Party

CW/SSB

Sponsor: FRC Duration: 20 hours Bands: HF

State QSO party — work Florida counties.

May

CQ WPX CW

Sponsor: CQ Magazine Duration: 48 hours Bands: HF

CW companion to the March SSB event.

Dayton Hamvention

N/A N/A

Sponsor: DARA Duration: 3 days Bands: N/A

Not a contest — but the biggest hamfest in the US. Xenia, OH.

June

ARRL Field Day

All

Sponsor: ARRL Duration: 24 hours Bands: All

The biggest ham radio event in North America. Clubs set up portable stations. Accessible to all skill levels.

VHF Contest (June)

All 6m+

Sponsor: ARRL Duration: 33 hours Bands: 6m+

VHF/UHF. Watch for sporadic E openings on 6m.

Kids Day

SSB

Sponsor: ARRL Duration: 1 day Bands: HF

Young operators get on the air. Great outreach event.

July

IARU HF Championship

CW/SSB

Sponsor: IARU Duration: 24 hours Bands: HF

Work IARU member society HQ stations for bonus points.

RAC Canada Day

All

Sponsor: RAC Duration: 24 hours Bands: HF

Work Canadian stations. Fun, mid-summer contest.

August

North American QSO Party (NAQP) CW

Sponsor: NCJ Duration: 12 hours Bands: HF

Summer edition. 100W max.

North American QSO Party (NAQP) SSB

SSB

Sponsor: NCJ Duration: 12 hours Bands: HF

Summer edition. 100W max.

September

CQ WW RTTY DX

RTTY/Digital

Sponsor: CQ Magazine Duration: 48 hours Bands: HF

Major digital contest. High participation worldwide.

ARRL VHF Contest (September)

All 6m+

Sponsor: ARRL Duration: 33 hours Bands: 6m+

Last good VHF opening season.

October

CQ WW DX SSB

SSB

Sponsor: CQ Magazine Duration: 48 hours Bands: HF

THE biggest contest of the year. Peak SSB participation worldwide. Equinox propagation.

JARTS WW RTTY

RTTY

Sponsor: JARTS Duration: 48 hours Bands: HF

Japanese-sponsored RTTY contest. Good activity from JA.

November

CQ WW DX CW

Sponsor: CQ Magazine Duration: 48 hours Bands: HF

CW companion to October SSB. Second biggest contest. Peak CW activity.

ARRL Sweepstakes CW

Sponsor: ARRL Duration: 24 hours Bands: HF

Work all 84 ARRL/RAC sections. US/Canada focused.

ARRL Sweepstakes SSB

SSB

Sponsor: ARRL Duration: 24 hours Bands: HF

SSB companion. Great for beginners.

December

ARRL 10m Contest

CW/SSB 10m

Sponsor: ARRL Duration: 48 hours Bands: 10m

Single-band contest. Technicians can operate SSB on 10m. Solar cycle dependent — check SFI.

ARRL 160m Contest

CW 160m

Sponsor: ARRL Duration: 42 hours Bands: 160m

Top Band in winter. Best low-band conditions of the year.

RAC Winter Contest

CW/SSB

Sponsor: RAC Duration: 24 hours Bands: HF

Holiday-season Canadian contest.

Contest Operating Tips

Before the Contest

- Check propagation conditions
- Read the rules on the sponsor's website
- Set up your logging software (N1MM+, N3FJP, etc.)
- Test your station and antennas

During the Contest

- Monitor RBN spots to see where you're being heard
- Check band scores on the propagation page
- Work multipliers (new countries, states, zones)
- Stay hydrated and take breaks

Best Bands by Time

- Morning: 15m, 20m (check SFI first)
- Afternoon: 20m (king of DX)
- Evening: 40m (regional + DX)
- Night: 80m, 160m (low band DX)
- Full guide: HF Band Times

New to Contests?

- Start with ARRL Field Day (June)
- NAQP (100W max, 12 hours) is beginner-friendly
- Just listen first to learn the rhythm
- Even a few contacts count — there's no minimum