World Amateur Radio Day 2024: Celebrating Global Communications and Innovation
Every April 18, radio enthusiasts worldwide participate in World Amateur Radio Day. This annual event commemorates the establishment of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) in Paris in 1925.
Amateur radio experimenters were the first to uncover the potential of the shortwave spectrum, which had previously been dismissed as a barren field. The IARU was established to support the global amateur radio community in response to the increased interest in these shorter wavelengths.
By 1927, the International Radiotelegraph Conference had granted amateur radio the recognized allocations of 160, 80, 40, 20, and 10 meters. Since its inception, the IARU has tirelessly defended and expanded frequency allocations for amateur radio operators. Today, thanks to the cooperation of global administrations, amateur radio operators can experiment and communicate on frequency bands strategically located throughout the radio spectrum.
Currently, the IARU comprises 160 member societies across three regions:
- Region 1: Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Northern Asia
- Region 2: The Americas
- Region 3: Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific island nations, and most of Asia
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recognizes the IARU as representing amateur radio interests.
With over 3 million licensed operators, amateur radio is more popular than ever. World Amateur Radio Day allows IARU member societies to display their capabilities, share experiences, and foster global friendships with other radio hobbyists.
World Amateur Radio Day 2024: “A Century of Connections: Celebrating 100 Years of Amateur Radio Innovation, Community, and Advocacy”
In anticipation of its centenary in 2025, the IARU has announced this exciting theme, highlighting the many groundbreaking achievements of radio amateurs over the past century. Since 1924, the amateur radio community has developed unprecedented technological advances that have strengthened worldwide communication and allowed them to respond effectively during global emergencies.
World Amateur Radio Day offers the chance to reflect on these achievements and celebrate the diverse community of amateur radio enthusiasts. This occasion also serves as a valuable opportunity to look ahead and prepare for the IARU's centenary celebrations next year.
