Celebrating 100 Years: World Amateur Radio Day 2025

April 19, 2025

April 18, 2025, marked a major milestone in the world of amateur radio—the 100th anniversary of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). That’s a full century of operators connecting across borders, stepping up during emergencies, and keeping the spirit of exploration and community alive on the airwaves.

A Worldwide Celebration

To mark the occasion, amateur radio operators around the globe came together for a series of special events that highlighted just how far the hobby has come—and where it’s going next.

Special Event Stations lit up the bands, including calls like GB0IARU in the UK and W2W in the U.S., offering collectors and casual operators a chance to make commemorative contacts and snag some limited-time QSL cards.
The IARU Centennial QSO Party ran for nine days and encouraged operators to get on the air, rack up contacts, and celebrate the international nature of the amateur radio community. Operators could track points through online logging tools, adding a fun, competitive twist to the festivities.
Ham Radio Open Houses were held by clubs and organizations around the world. These gave newcomers a hands-on look at radios in action and gave seasoned operators a chance to show off their stations, antennas, and all the weird and wonderful gear that makes this hobby so unique.
In some cities, mayors and local governments even issued official proclamations recognizing April 18 as World Amateur Radio Day, a nod to the public service and technical contributions of amateur radio operators in their communities.

On-the-air Events:

Messages from various amateur radio associations:

A Century of Progress

The International Amateur Radio Union was founded in Paris back in 1925 by a group of forward-thinking hams from 25 different countries. Their goal was simple: protect and promote the shared radio frequencies that amateur radio depends on. Over time, that mission grew, and today, the IARU represents more than 160 countries, organized into three global regions.

They’ve been instrumental in everything from securing international frequency allocations to advocating for amateur access to new bands and technologies. Without that leadership, many of the bands hams rely on today might have been auctioned off to the highest corporate bidder.

A Hobby That’s Still Evolving

Amateur radio today isn’t just about Morse code or analog repeaters. While plenty of operators still enjoy working CW or chatting on 2 meters, others are bouncing signals off satellites, building mesh networks, using digital modes like FT8, and even communicating via low-Earth orbit satellites.

Globally, there are estimated to be over 3 million licensed amateur radio operators. In the U.S. alone, more than 744,000 licenses were active as of early 2025. The hobby is thriving, not in spite of the internet and smartphones—but alongside them. In fact, many operators use digital tools to expand what’s possible on the airwaves.

And let’s not forget the service side of amateur radio. From hurricanes and earthquakes to marathons and local events, ham radio operators are often the first to step up when communication lines are down.

The Road Ahead

Reaching the 100-year mark is more than just a celebration—it’s a call to keep building. Amateur radio is still one of the most open and creative tech hobbies in the world. You don’t need a subscription, just a license and a willingness to learn.

World Amateur Radio Day 2025 was a reminder that even in a world full of apps and automation, there’s something powerful about building your own antenna, making a contact across the globe, and being part of a community that’s been going strong for a century.

Here’s to the next hundred years—and the hams who will carry the torch.