ARRL Kids Day 2026
[Photo courtesy of and used with permission of the Mid-State Amateur Radio Club in Johnson County, Indiana]
ARRL Kids Day is about a week away! Kids Day 2026 will be on Saturday, June 20, from 1800 to 2359 UTC (2:00–7:59 PM Eastern Time).
Kids Day is held twice a year, in January and June, to let young people experience hands-on amateur radio and encourage their interest in obtaining a license. The event also allows active hams to share their stations and the hobby with children, scouts, church groups, or the public in as many ways as you can imagine.
Some amateurs set up their equipment in a park or at a library, encouraging prospective hams to stop by, talk on the radio, and even experience Morse code. The rules are simple:
- Operation: Operate as much or as little as you like. You can invite kids and their parents to your station, explain how it works, and let them take turns on the air.
- Frequencies: Use any frequency from 10 – 80 meters, or your favorite repeater (with permission).
- Third-party rules: Follow restrictions when making DX contacts.
- Suggested exchange: First name, age, location, and favorite color.
And the fun doesn’t stop there! Take pictures and share your experience on the ARRL Kids Day Soapbox page or email to contests@arrl.org with a signed youth photo release form for publication in QST and other ARRL publications. Tells us their story, tell us your story.
Get Your Certificate!
All participants are eligible to receive a colorful certificate and there is no waiting! You can download a certificate and complete it on-site with the participant’s name and date of the contact.
