Daily Ham Radio Contest Brief – Saturday, July 18, 2026
Here are the main contest opportunities for today and the Sunday look-ahead. Times are listed in UTC/Zulu.
Today
Phone/SSB
- LABRE DX Contest: 0000Z July 18 to 2359Z July 19. SSB and CW; a full-weekend DX contest with Brazilian-state and DXCC-country multipliers.
- Russian Radio Team Championship: 0700Z-1459Z July 18. CW and SSB on 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.
- Trans-Tasman Low-Bands Challenge: 0800Z-1400Z July 18. Low-band activity with CW, SSB, and digital modes.
CW
- LABRE DX Contest: 0000Z July 18 to 2359Z July 19. CW and SSB; good weekend DX activity.
- Russian Radio Team Championship: 0700Z-1459Z July 18. CW and SSB team-style operating.
- Trans-Tasman Low-Bands Challenge: 0800Z-1400Z July 18. Includes CW activity on the lower bands.
- IARU Region 1 70 MHz Contest: 1400Z July 18 to 1400Z July 19. VHF activity; useful for operators watching 4-meter-region activity.
- Feld Hell Sprint: 1600Z-1759Z July 18. Short digital-style sprint using Feld Hell.
Digital
- Trans-Tasman Low-Bands Challenge: 0800Z-1400Z July 18. Includes digital-mode activity.
- Feld Hell Sprint: 1600Z-1759Z July 18. A short Feld Hell operating window.
- North American QSO Party, RTTY: 1800Z July 18 to 0559Z July 19. Main domestic RTTY event for the day.
- CQ Worldwide VHF Digital Contest: 1800Z July 18 to 2100Z July 19. VHF digital activity over the weekend.
Tomorrow Look-Ahead
Phone/SSB
- LABRE DX Contest continues through 2359Z July 19.
- YOTA Contest: 1000Z-2159Z July 19. Youth-oriented worldwide activity.
CW
- LABRE DX Contest continues through 2359Z July 19.
- RSGB International Low Power Contest: 0900Z-1600Z July 19. CW low-power operating.
- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest: 2300Z July 19 to 0100Z July 20. Short QRP CW activity.
- K1USN Slow Speed Test: 2000Z-2100Z July 19. Friendly CW practice and activity.
Digital
- CQ Worldwide VHF Digital Contest continues until 2100Z July 19.
- YOTA Contest: 1000Z-2159Z July 19; check current rules for supported modes.
Sources: WA7BNM Contest Calendar, WA7BNM 8-Day Calendar, ARRL Contest Calendar, and sponsor/rules pages linked above.
