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The amateur radio contest calendar is packed with events throughout the year, ranging from brief sprint-style competitions lasting a few hours to gruelling 48-hour marathons. This page covers the most widely participated contests worldwide. Each entry summarises what makes the event distinctive, what exchange you will need to send, and why it is worth putting on your calendar.
For help finding contest dates and planning your schedule, see the Contest Calendar.
The CQ WW is the single largest amateur radio operating event in the world. Held on two separate weekends — one for SSB (phone) in late October and one for CW in late November — it regularly attracts over 30,000 participants from more than 180 countries.
Sponsor: CQ Magazine
Duration: 48 hours (0000 UTC Saturday to 2359 UTC Sunday)
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 metres
Exchange: Signal report + CQ Zone number (e.g., "59 05")
Multipliers: Each CQ Zone and each country worked per band
Scoring: QSO points vary by distance (own country = 0 or 2 points, same continent = 2 points, different continent = 3 points)
The CQ WW is popular with beginners because the exchange is extremely simple and the massive activity level means there is always someone to work. It is also one of the best weekends of the year for chasing DXCC entities, as many DXpeditions and rare stations make a point of being active.
The CQ WPX (Worked All Prefixes) is another pair of major international contests — SSB in late March and CW in late May. Unlike most contests, the multiplier in WPX is based on callsign prefixes rather than countries or zones.
Sponsor: CQ Magazine
Duration: 48 hours
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 metres
Exchange: Signal report + serial number (e.g., "59 001")
Multipliers: Each unique callsign prefix worked (e.g., W1, G4, VK2, JA1 are all different multipliers)
Scoring: Points vary by band and distance
The prefix-based multiplier system makes WPX strategically interesting — every new prefix is valuable, and unusual callsigns carry extra weight. This contest rewards operators who work a wide variety of stations rather than focusing only on traditional DX entities.
The ARRL DX contests are a pair of events (CW in February, SSB in March) built around contacts between stations in the US and Canada and the rest of the world. This asymmetric design creates a natural incentive for DX stations to be active and for US/Canadian stations to work as many countries as possible.
Sponsor: American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
Duration: 48 hours
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 metres
Exchange (US/Canada): Signal report + state or province (e.g., "59 CT" for Connecticut)
Exchange (DX stations): Signal report + power (e.g., "59 100" for 100 watts)
Multipliers: US/Canada stations count DXCC entities; DX stations count US states and Canadian provinces
The ARRL DX contests are a staple of the contest calendar and an excellent opportunity to work into (or out of) North America. For US operators, they are also one of the best events for making progress toward the DXCC award.
Sweepstakes is a domestic US and Canadian contest held in two weekends in November — one for CW and one for SSB. It has a longer exchange than most contests but is deeply popular because of the challenge of achieving a clean sweep (working all 84 ARRL/RAC sections).
Sponsor: ARRL
Duration: 30 hours (with off-time requirements)
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 metres
Exchange: Serial number, precedence (operator category letter), callsign, check (two-digit year first licensed), ARRL section
Multipliers: Each ARRL/RAC section worked
Scoring: 2 points per QSO × sections
A typical Sweepstakes exchange sounds like: "Number 247, Alpha, November Zero Charlie Alpha Lima Lima, 72, Connecticut." The exchange carries a surprising amount of information and gives the event a distinctive character. Many operators consider completing a clean sweep one of the most satisfying achievements in contesting.
Field Day is technically not a contest — the ARRL classifies it as an operating event — but it has scoring, categories, and intense activity, so it functions like one for most participants. Held on the last full weekend of June, Field Day is the most widely participated amateur radio event in North America.
Sponsor: ARRL
Duration: 24 hours (begins 1800 UTC Saturday)
Bands: All amateur bands, all modes
Exchange: Category (e.g., "1D" for one transmitter, home station) + ARRL section
Scoring: Points per contact (CW and digital contacts earn more) + bonus points for various activities
What makes Field Day unique is its emphasis on emergency preparedness. Many clubs set up portable stations in parks, on hilltops, and in parking lots, running on generator or battery power. It is an ideal event for newcomers because you can participate alongside experienced operators who will guide you through the process. See Emergency Communications for more on the preparedness angle.
The IARU HF Championship is held on the second weekend of July and is notable for featuring official headquarters stations from national amateur radio societies worldwide. These HQ stations (identified by special callsigns) are high-value multipliers.
Sponsor: International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
Duration: 24 hours
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 metres
Exchange: Signal report + ITU Zone (or HQ station abbreviation)
Multipliers: ITU Zones + HQ stations
Scoring: 1 point for own zone contacts, 3 points for different zone, 1 point for own HQ
This contest is a true worldwide event — with ITU Zones as the exchange, it appeals to operators who enjoy a more international perspective than North America-centric events. The headquarters stations add an exciting DXpedition-like element.
The CQ 160 is one of the premier single-band contests, dedicated entirely to the 160-metre band (1.8 MHz), often called "Top Band." Operating on 160 metres is a unique challenge — antennas are physically large, noise levels are high, and propagation is unpredictable.
Sponsor: CQ Magazine
Duration: 48 hours (CW in January, SSB in February)
Bands: 160 metres only
Exchange: Signal report + CQ Zone (DX) or state/province (US/Canada)
Multipliers: States, provinces, and countries
Top Band enthusiasts consider this one of the highlights of the year. If you have any 160-metre capability at all, it is worth spending a few hours in this contest to experience the unique character of the band.
The NAQP events are shorter, lower-key contests designed to be approachable and fun. They are limited to North American operators and run on a single 12-hour period, making them ideal for operators who cannot commit to an entire weekend.
Sponsor: National Contest Journal (NCJ)
Duration: 12 hours
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 metres (varies by mode)
Modes: Separate events for SSB, CW, and RTTY
Exchange: Name + state/province/country
Power limit: 100 watts maximum
Multipliers: US states, Canadian provinces, and North American countries
The power limit and shorter duration put casual stations on a more even footing with large stations. The name-and-location exchange feels natural and personal, and the pace is less intense than the big international events. NAQP events are held throughout the year — January (SSB and CW) and February/March (RTTY), with a second round in July and August.
The CQ WW RTTY (held in late September) is the premier contest for RTTY operators. It follows a format similar to the CQ WW phone and CW events but uses radioteletype — and increasingly, other digital modes in dedicated sub-categories.
Sponsor: CQ Magazine
Duration: 48 hours
Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 metres
Exchange: Signal report + CQ Zone (DX) or state (US)
Multipliers: CQ Zones and countries per band
RTTY contesting is a natural fit for operators who enjoy digital modes. The computer handles decoding and encoding, so the pace is fast and accuracy is high. Many operators who are hesitant about phone or CW contesting find that RTTY is a comfortable entry point.
The Worked All Europe (WAE) contest inverts the usual perspective — it is designed specifically to promote contacts between European stations and the rest of the world. A unique feature is the QTC system, where DX stations can send batches of previously logged contact data back to European stations for bonus points.
Sponsor: Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC)
Duration: 48 hours (CW in August, SSB in September, RTTY in November)
Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 metres
Exchange: Signal report + serial number
Multipliers: Countries per band (European stations count non-European countries and vice versa)
The QTC mechanism adds a strategic layer that no other contest has. DX stations earn extra points by transmitting sets of six previously logged contacts to European stations, who earn points for receiving them accurately. It rewards careful operating and bookkeeping.
The OCDX promotes contacts with stations in Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, and surrounding regions). It is a valuable event for operators pursuing Pacific DX.
Sponsor: Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA)
Duration: 48 hours (phone in October, CW in October)
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 metres
Exchange: Signal report + serial number
Multipliers: Oceania stations count non-Oceania countries; others count Oceania call areas
For operators outside Oceania, this contest is a good opportunity to work VK, ZL, and Pacific island stations. For Oceania operators, it is a chance to be the sought-after station for a change.
Sprint contests are short, fast-paced events (typically two to four hours) that test raw operating speed and agility. The most well-known are the North American Sprint events (CW, SSB, and RTTY), which use a unique QSY rule — after completing a contact, the station that called CQ must move at least 1 kHz before calling CQ again. This rule keeps the band churning and prevents any one station from dominating a frequency.
Sprints are intense but short enough that they do not consume an entire weekend. They are excellent practice for building speed and precision.
With dozens of contests every month, it helps to start with a plan: