WWBOTA BUNKERFEST 2026

24-26 July 2026 UTC

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International Festival of Bunkers

Outline - the basics

When: 24-26 July 2026 (72 hours) UTC
Note: the event is extended to 3 days – Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

Purpose: An international ‘long’ weekend bunker event

Aims

* Promote the Worldwide Bunkers on the Air (WWBOTA) scheme.
* Encourage bunker activations from all WWBOTA member countries (i.e. the DXCC within those countries).
* Encourage worldwide bunker hunting and shortwave listening.
* Encourage amateurs who do not presently have national bunker schemes to participate as ‘guest countries’.
* Have fun activating and chasing!

Background

* A WWBOTA sponsored event, supported by national societies.
* This is our second year of running the summer Bunkerfest event.
* Activators in ‘guest countries’ (those who have not yet joined WWBOTA) also invited to participate.

Outline

* WWBOTA will host the event and produce promotional material.
* WWBOTA will issue awards for activators, hunters and SWL.
* QSOs will also count for WWBOTA and national awards, where applicable.
* Logs and claims via WWBOTA Logger.

The Rules
  1.  HF activators require a minimum of 25 QSOs to activate a bunker, return visits within the 72 hours of the event to achieve 25 QSO are permitted.
  2.  VHF activators require a minimum of 10 QSOs to activate a bunker, return visits within the 72 hours of the event to achieve 10 QSO are permitted.
  3.  All simplex modes may be used (voice, CW, and data including FT modes).
  4.  The use of repeaters and internet gateway and VOIP services (eg. Peanut) is not permitted.
  5.  A station may only be worked once at each bunker. Additional modes or bands do not score as an additional QSO.
  6.  A Hunter may only claim a bunker once, even if different activators are worked at the same bunker.
  7.  No multiple bunkers permitted during an activation, one bunker per activation, eg. even if the bunker activation areas include multiple bunkers (like a 3 fer) then only one of the bunkers may be claimed. It is subsequently permissible to activate other bunkers in the same activation zone, one at a time, each requiring a minimum of 25 QSO HF or  10 VHF. An activator may activate each bunker once on HF or VHF, but not both. 
  8. Activator must leave a minimum of 10 minute gap before switching bunkers. Failure to follow that rule will lead to QSOs not being accepted by our logging system and, in the worst case an activation not being valid.

Awards

Activator

Scoring

A. 5 points per bunker activated.

B. 3 additional bonus points per bunker to bunker (B2B) QSO with another DXCC (ie. outside the activators DXCC).

C. 1 additional bonus point per DXCC worked (excluding the activator’s DXCC). Each DXCC bonus can only be claimed once during the event, irrespective of how many times it is worked. 

Total Score is: A + B + C

HF example

* M0BOA activates 5 bunkers from England, on HF, between 24-25 June. (5 bunker x 5 points)
* In total they have 16 B2B QSO with bunkers outside England. (16 B2B x 3 points)
* They work a total of 20 different DXCC (excluding England). (20 DXCC x 1 point)

Score is: (5×5) + (16×3) + 20 = 25 + 48 +20 = 93 points = SILVER

HF Activator Awards
Bronze = 25
Silver = 50
Gold = 100
Diamond = 200 or more

VHF Activator Awards
Bronze = 10
Silver = 20
Gold = 30
Diamond = 50 or more

Rule 6

Activators:  If you incorrectly activated more than one bunker at a time (not permitted in this event) then you may only claim ONE of the Bunkers.

Hunter and SWL

Scoring

A. 1 point for every bunker worked (or heard) in the hunter’s (or SWL) DXCC

B. 3  points per bunker worked (or heard) outside the hunter’s (or SWL) DXCC

C. 3 bonus points per DXCC worked (or heard) activating a bunker a different DXCC outside hunter’s or SWL DXCC. Note. Each DXCC bonus can only be claimed once during the event.

Total Score is: A + B + C

HF Example

* ON3BOA works 7 bunkers in Belgium between 14-15 June. (7 bunker x 1 point)
* They work 15 bunkers outside Belgium. (15 bunkers x 3 points)
* They work bunkers in a total of 5 different DXCC (excluding Belgium). (5 DXCC x 3 points)

Score is: (7×1) + (15×3) + (5×3) = 7 + 45 + 15 = 67 points = SILVER

HF Hunter Awards
Bronze = 25
Silver = 50
Gold = 100
Diamond = 200 or more

VHF Hunter Awards
Bronze = 10
Silver = 20
Gold = 30
Diamond = 50 or more

Rule 6

If you worked a station incorrectly activating more than one bunker at a time (not permitted in this event) then you may only claim ONE of the Bunkers