The first round of the YOTA Contest 2026 will take place on 15th March 2026, from 10:00 to 22:00 UTC.
The YOTA Contest is one of the key activities supporting the Youngsters On The Air program and aims to encourage the participation of young radio amateurs worldwide, while promoting intergenerational activity on the bands.
Participants are encouraged to work as many stations as possible, with a particular focus on making QSOs with operators under 26 years of age. Contacts with young operators are worth additional points. The exchange consists of the age of the operator(s), and these numbers act individually as multipliers, adding a dynamic and educational aspect to the competition.
The contest provides an excellent opportunity to:
- Support and mentor young radio amateurs
- Encourage youth participation in contesting
- Promote YOTA activities within your national society
- Strengthen the visibility of youth within amateur radio
Full contest rules are available here:
https://yotacontest.mrasz.org/rules-2026/english
More information about the Youth On The Air programme can be found on the official website:
https://www.ham-yota.com/
IARU Region 1 encourages all Member Societies and individual radio amateurs to take part and actively support young operators on the air.
We look forward to hearing you on the bands on 15th March.