What Is The World Wide Award (WWA)?
The World Wide Award (WWA) has rapidly become one of amateur radio's most exciting and inclusive events, bringing together ham radio operators from around the globe in a massive, collaborative pursuit of contacts and countries. If you're new to the hobby or haven't yet discovered this innovative event, here's everything you need to know about the WWA.
A Revolutionary Radio Event
The World Wide Award is the first international radio project specifically designed to aggregate the largest number of countries in the world in a single event, separate from traditional world contests. Born from the experience of the HamInnovation team during their three years organizing WRTC 2022, the WWA has quickly established itself as the world's leading radio event in terms of the number of QSOs (contacts) and activators.
The numbers speak for themselves:
- Over 150,000 Hunters in just one month
- Over 10 million page views in one month
- Participants from over 250 countries
When Does WWA Take Place?
The WWA aims to become the most followed radio event in the world, with two editions each year:
2026 Schedule:
- January Edition: 1 month, from January 1 to January 31
- July Sprint Edition: 1 week, from June 29 to July 5
The July event is known as the "Sprint World Wide Award," offering a faster-paced, week-long version of the main January event.
How Does It Work?
Unlike traditional contests, the WWA operates as a global scavenger hunt for both Activators and Hunters (chasers). As top contester Randy Thompson K5ZD explains, there's no traditional contest format—but the excitement is just as real.
For Hunters:
- Work stations across all HF bands and modes
- Compete for top positions in categories including MIXED, SSB, CW, and DIGI
- Enjoy real-time scoring and tracking
- Aim for daily and hourly QSO records
For Activators:
- Represent your country with regular or special event callsigns
- Coordinate with teams to maximize on-air time
- Compete in MIXED, SSB, CW, DIGI, and Multi categories
- Help provide opportunities for hunters worldwide
A FREE Event with Real Prizes
One of the WWA's most appealing aspects is that it's completely free for both Hunters and Activators. Despite this, the organizing team has secured impressive sponsorships to provide real prizes for winners.
2026 January Edition Prizes:
For Hunters (sponsored by WIMO):
- 1st place: AnyTone AT-389UVD radio
- 2nd place: €25.00 discount voucher for wimo.com
For Activators (sponsored by 4O3A Signature):
- 1st place in each category (MIXED, SSB, CW, DIGI, Multi): 4O3A NC-1 headset
Additionally, the top three finishers in each category receive personalized award plaques.
Powered by Hamaward.cloud
All WWA technology is managed by Hamaward.cloud, recognized as the most powerful platform on the market for organizing large radio events. The platform excels at:
- Automating coordination of activators
- Providing real-time data and scoring
- Tracking records and statistics
- Managing the massive volume of QSOs
You can even compete to beat records from previous editions, with leaderboards tracking metrics like QSOs per day and per hour on the records page.
Major Sponsor Support
The WWA has attracted support from the biggest names in amateur radio:
- ICOM America - Global leader in radio technology
- WiMo - Europe's leading specialist in amateur radio and antenna technology
- MOMO BEAM - High-performance antenna manufacturer
- HAMBUY - Amateur radio equipment sales and trading
A Growing Community
The WWA has become more than just an event—it's a global community. The organizing team regularly appears at major ham radio exhibitions like Friedrichshafen and Montichiari, and has been featured on prestigious platforms like W1DED's YouTube channel and Q5 HAM RADIO.
The award ceremonies have become special gatherings, with the 2025 ceremony held at the IberRadio fair in Ávila, Madrid, where winners received their plaques in person.
Get Involved
Whether you're an experienced contester or a newcomer to amateur radio, the WWA offers something for everyone:
- Join as a Hunter: Get on the air during the event period and start making contacts
- Become an Activator: Apply to represent your country and help activate rare locations
- Show Your Support: Check out the WWA Shop for exclusive T-shirts, plaques, and medals personalized with your callsign
Learn More
For complete rules, registration information, and real-time scoring during events, visit the official website at hamaward.cloud/wwa.
The World Wide Award represents the future of amateur radio events—inclusive, technologically advanced, and focused on bringing operators together from every corner of the globe. Whether you're chasing countries or activating from your home station, the WWA offers an exciting opportunity to be part of something truly worldwide.
73, and see you in the next WWA!
