All is ready for World Amateur Radio Day (WARD) 2026. Activity begins on Saturday, April 18, as amateur radio operators and their national societies worldwide celebrate the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). It was on this day in 1925 that the IARU was formed in Paris, France. Hiram Percy Maxim, co-founder of ARRL, served as its first president. Since its founding, ARRL has served as the IARU International Secretariat.

ARRL is encouraging radio clubs to use WARD or any time during the month of April to host a Ham Radio Open House… and there is still time to do that! Just set up a working amateur radio station anywhere to showcase your club’s station and promote amateur radio science and technology to the public. Check out ARRL’s Ham Radio Open House Station Locator at www.arrl.org/open-house. To date, 30 clubs have added their locations to the locator map, including California, Hawaii, and Iowa.

Visit www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day for ideas and activities to engage your community or school radio club in World Amateur Radio Day and Ham Radio Open House.