Január je tradične jedným z najaktívnejších mesiacov v rádioamatérskom súťažnom kalendári. Po sviatočnom období sa operátori vracajú k rádiám, podmienky na nižších pásmach sú priaznivé a contestový kalendár je doslova nabitý. Rok 2026 nie je výnimkou – prvý mesiac brings pestrú kombináciushortwave (SW) of races, UHF activities and regular ones Moon contestov. In this article, we will detail all the major competitions that will take place in January 2026 and indicate for whom they are suitable.
The beginning of the year in the sign of CW and RTTY
Immediately January 1, 2026sa nový contestový rok začína dvojicou krátkych, ale obľúbených pretekov.
SARTG New Year RTTY contest
Date:1 Jan 2026
Time: 08:00 – 11:00 UTC
Mode:RTTY
Tento pretek je tradičnou voľbou pre digitálnych nadšencov. Trojhodinový formát je ideálny na „rozjazd“ po silvestrovskej noci a umožňuje zapojiť sa aj tým, ktorí nemajú ambície na celodenné preteky. RTTY contesty sú v januári obľúbené aj pre stabilné podmienky na VHF pásmach.
AGCW Happy-New-Year contest
Date: 1.1.
Time: 09:00 – 12:00 UTC
Mode:CW
The CW community traditionally celebrates the New Year with this short, festive race. It is also suitable for less experienced telegraphers who want to practice speed and accuracy without long stress.

Prvé januárové víkendy: mix krátkych aj veľkých contestov
SSB League and ARRL RTTY Roundup
January 3 brings SSB League (06:00 – 08:00 UTC), which is a typical regional race with a shorter duration. However, in the evening, one of the big digital races begins:
ARRL RTTY Roundup
Date: 3.–4.1.
Duration: 30 hours
Mode:RTTY
ARRL RTTY Roundup patrí medzi najvýznamnejšie RTTY contesty na svete. Účasť amerických staníc zaručuje vysokú aktivitu a dobré možnosti na DX spojenia.

Traditional Central European activities and club races
January is also rich in short local and regional competitions, which are ideal for club stations and individuals with limited time.
Repeatedly appear during the month:
SW operational activities
Sunday races (CW)
Memorial OK1WC
CUC
Activities on 160 m (CW and SSB)
These races usually last 30 to 60 minutes, making them excellent training for precise operation, fast logging, and effective work on the band. For many operators, it is a regular part of the week.
OM Activity contest a HA DX contest
OM Activity contest – 10. január
Time: 05:00 – 07:00 UTC
Mode: CW / SSB
OM Activity contest has long been popular especially in Central Europe. The combination of CW and SSB allows a wide spectrum of operators to participate and supports activity on multiple bands.
HA DX contest – 17.–18. január
Duration: 24 hours
Mode: CW / SSB
Tento contest organizovaný maďarským zväzom patrí medzi Center ne veľké DX súťaže. Je vhodný pre single operátorov aj viacoperátorské stanice a ponúka dobrú príležitosť na zbieranieDXCC points.

Peak of the month: CQWW 160 m and major weekend contests
Conclusion januára je tradične vyhradený pre „ťažké váhy“ contestového sveta.
CQWW 160 m DX CW contest
Date: 23–25 Jan.
Duration: 48 hours
Band:160 m
Mode:CW
Topband contest je výzvou aj pre skúsených operátorov. Vyžaduje kvalitné antennas, nízky šum a dobré znalosti šírenia. Zimné obdobie však poskytuje najlepšie podmienky na diaľkové spojenia na 160 m.
Concurrent major contests (24–25 Jan.)
REF contest (CW) – 36 hours
BARTG Sprint contest (RTTY) – 24 hours
UBA contest (SSB) – 24 hours
This weekend is literally a festival of modes. Everyone can choose according to preference - telegraphy, phone or digital.

UHF contesty v januári 2026
Alongside HF contests, January is also rich in VHF activity, especially within CAC a DAC contestov.
The main ones include:
CAC-VHF Activity contest (2 m) – 6 Jan.
DAC VHF Digital (2 m) – 7 Jan.
CAC 50 MHz Activity contest (6 m) – 8 Jan.
CAC UHF (70 cm) – 13 Jan.
DAC UHF Digital – 14 Jan.
CAC 70 MHz (4 m) – 15 Jan.
9A Activity contest (6 m – 1 mm) – 18 Jan.
Tieto contesty majú zvyčajne4 to 5 hours and are an excellent opportunity for testing antennas, power, and digital modes on VHF bands.
MOON contesty – pravidelná výzva pre špecialistov
The series continues in January Moon contestov.In January 2026, the following will take place:
145 MHz: 7 Jan.
435 MHz: 14 Jan.
50 MHz: 21 Jan.
1.3 GHz: 28 Jan.
All take place from 20:00 to 22:00 local time.
Tabuľka contestov január 2026
| Date | UTC | Názov contestu | Band / range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 | 08:00–11:00 | SARTG New Year RTTY contest | VHF |
| 1 Jan 2026 | 09:00–12:00 | AGCW Happy-New-Year contest | VHF |
| 3 Jan 2026 | 06:00–08:00 | SSB league | VHF |
| 3–4 Jan 2026 | 18:00–24:00 | ARRL RTTY Roundup | VHF |
| 4 Jan 2026 | 06:00–07:00 | HF operational activity | VHF |
| 4 Jan 2026 | 15:00–15:30 | Sunday race | VHF |
| 5 Jan 2026 | 16:30–17:30 | Memorial OK1WC | VHF |
| 5 Jan 2026 | 17:30–18:00 | CUC | VHF |
| 5 Jan 2026 | 20:30–21:30 | Activity 160 SSB | 160 m |
| 6 Jan 2026 | 18:00–22:00 | CAC-VHF Activity contest | 2 m |
| 7 Jan 2026 | 17:00–21:00 | DAC-VHF Digital Activity contest | 2 m |
| 7 Jan 2026 | 20:00–22:00 (local time) | MOON contest | 145 MHz |
| 8 Jan 2026 | 18:00–22:00 | CAC-50 MHz Activity contest | 6 m |
| 10 Jan 2026 | 05:00–07:00 | OM Activity contest | VHF |
| 11 Jan 2026 | 15:00–15:30 | Sunday race | VHF |
| January 12, 2026 | 16:30–17:30 | Memorial OK1WC | VHF |
| January 12, 2026 | 17:30–18:00 | CUC | VHF |
| January 12, 2026 | 20:30–21:30 | Activity 160 CW | 160 m |
| January 13, 2026 | 18:00–22:00 | CAC-UHF Activity contest | 70 cm |
| January 14, 2026 | 17:00–21:00 | DAC-UHF Digital Activity contest | 70 cm |
| January 14, 2026 | 20:00–22:00 (local time) | MOON contest | 435 MHz |
| January 15, 2026 | 18:00–22:00 | CAC-70 MHz Activity contest | 4 m |
| January 17–18, 2026 | 12:00–12:00 | HA DX contest | VHF |
| January 18, 2026 | 07:00–12:00 | 9A Activity contest | 6 m – 1 mm |
| January 18, 2026 | 15:00–15:30 | Sunday race | VHF |
| January 19, 2026 | 16:30–17:30 | Memorial OK1WC | VHF |
| January 19, 2026 | 17:30–18:00 | CUC | VHF |
| January 21, 2026 | 20:00–22:00 (local time) | MOON contest | 50 MHz |
| January 23–25, 2026 | 22:00–22:00 | CQWW 160 m DX CW contest | 160 m |
| January 24–25, 2026 | 06:00–18:00 | REF contest | VHF |
| January 24–25, 2026 | 12:00–12:00 | BARTG Sprint contest | VHF |
| January 24–25, 2026 | 13:00–13:00 | UBA contest | VHF |
| January 25, 2026 | 15:00–15:30 | Sunday race | VHF |
| January 26, 2026 | 16:30–17:30 | Memorial OK1WC | VHF |
| January 26, 2026 | 17:30–18:00 | CUC | VHF |
| January 28, 2026 | 20:00–22:00 (local time) | MOON contest | 1.3 GHz |
Conclusion
Január 2026 ponúka rádioamatérom mimoriadne bohatý contestový program. Od krátkych klubových activities, cez regionálne preteky až po svetové DX contesty – každý si nájde to svoje. Pre začiatočníkov sú ideálne krátke CW a SSB preteky, zatiaľ čo skúsení operátori sa môžu vyzvať v ARRL RTTY Roundup, HA DX Conteste alebo CQWW 160 m.
