DARC Weihnachtswettbewerb (XMAS Contest)

Boxing-morning sprint on 80 and 40 metres, two and a half hours long, with a twenty-change cap that makes band planning part of the game.

Rules at darc.deThe rules are the sponsor's. This page holds the dates and the facts.

When it runs

December 26, every year

0830Z → 1059Z

Times are UTC, as the sponsor states them.

Next runnings

0830Z Sat 26 Dec → 1059Z Sat 26 Dec · 2h 29m2026
in 86 days
Logs due 1059Z Sat 2 Jan
0830Z Sun 26 Dec → 1059Z Sun 26 Dec · 2h 29m2027
in 451 days
Logs due 1059Z Sun 2 Jan
0830Z Tue 26 Dec → 1059Z Tue 26 Dec · 2h 29m2028
in 817 days
Logs due 1059Z Tue 2 Jan
0830Z Wed 26 Dec → 1059Z Wed 26 Dec · 2h 29m2029
in 1182 days
Logs due 1059Z Wed 2 Jan
0830Z Thu 26 Dec → 1059Z Thu 26 Dec · 2h 29m2030
in 1547 days
Logs due 1059Z Thu 2 Jan

Operating

Modes: CW / SSB
Bands: 80m40m
CW 3510-3560 and 7010-7040 kHz; SSB 3610-3650, 3700-3775, 7060-7100 and 7130-7200 kHz
Exchange: German stations send RS(T) + their DOK, or 'NM' if they are not a DARC or VFDB member. All stations outside Germany send RS(T) + serial number.
Power categories: High PowerLow Power 100 W
Logs: Cabrillo · due 7 days after the end · dxhf2.darc.de
Who can enter: Anyone, anywhere.
'Der Deutsche Amateur-Radio-Club (DARC) lädt alle Funkamateure zur Teilnahme ... ein' -- DARC's own English page renders it 'has the honor to invite all radio amateurs to participate in the annual XMAS Sprint-Contest.'

Where this comes from

Checked against the sponsor: Yes. The rule on this page was read off DARC's own published rules. Link last confirmed 2026-08-18.
What the source says: darc.de/der-club/referate/conteste/weihnachtswettbewerb/regeln/: 'Der Deutsche Amateur-Radio-Club (DARC) lädt alle Funkamateure zur Teilnahme am jährlichen Weihnachtswettbewerb (XMAS-Contest) ein.' '1. Termin: 26. Dezember, 08.30-10.59 UTC.' -- '26 December, 0830-1059 UTC.' DARC's own English page states the same: 'XMAS, 26. December 2026, 8.30-10.59 UT.' Betriebsarten und Bänder: 80m and 40m, 'CW 3510-3560 khz 7010-7040 khz, SSB 3610-3650 3700-3775 khz 7060-7100 7130-7200 khz'; 'Es sind maximal 20 Wechsel der Betriebsart oder des Bandes während der gesamten Contestzeit zugelassen.' -- at most 20 band or mode changes in the whole contest. Logeinsendeschluß: 'NEU: 7 Tage nach dem Wettbewerb (für den Contest 2026 der 2.01.2027)' -- 'NEW: 7 days after the contest.' Verified 2026-08-18.
Recorded caveats: A calendar-fixed date, not a weekday rule: 26 December whatever day it falls on. DARC shortened the log deadline to seven days and flags the change itself ('NEU: verkürzte Logabgabefrist auf 7 Tage').

Something wrong? How to report it — a link to the sponsor's own page is all it takes.

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