ARRL Field Day 2026
ARRL Field Day 2026 is an annual amateur radio event where operators set up temporary stations to practice emergency communications. The ARRL provides a locator tool to help participants find nearby Field Day sites and events.
Background
- The **ARRL (American Radio Relay League)** is the largest membership association of amateur ("ham") radio operators in the U.S. Ham radio is a licensed hobby that lets people communicate across town or around the world without relying on the internet or cell towers.<br>- **Field Day** is an annual, 24-hour emergency-preparedness drill held every June. Amateur radio clubs set up temporary stations in parks, fields, and rooftops to practice running communications entirely off-grid (generators, batteries, solar).<br>- The event is part contest (who can make the most contacts) and part public demonstration: it shows that a network of skilled volunteers can provide communication when normal infrastructure fails — after hurricanes, earthquakes, or grid outages.<br>- **2026 marks the 100th anniversary** of the ARRL's founding, making this Field Day a milestone event with likely more participants and special activities. The locator tool helps the public find a nearby Field Day site to visit in person.