WBA Monthly Report: July 2026

Dear World Beauties Award (WBA) friends and hunters worldwide. If you thought that after the euphoric second-anniversary celebrations (HB2) in June the frequencies would slow down, you were quite mistaken…

The month of July 2026 recorded an unprecedented explosion of Freeband radio activity.

Under a blazing sun and with generous summer sporadic-E propagation on the 11-meter band, WBA portable and base stations totaled 3,230 overall QSOs distributed across 15 official high-level sessions.

From the windswept Sardinian cliffs to mountain peaks, passing through traditional Spanish festivals and pristine islands, July firmly establishes itself as the golden month of field expeditions!

Highlight of the Month

The undisputed cover story for July goes to 165DA101Alex (Shown below), author of a radio feat that has gone directly into the award’s annals.

Defying the harsh logistics of minor islands and the summer heat, Alex strung together an extraordinary series of IOTA (Islands On The Air) activations, bringing home a full three absolute “New One” references.

• Spargi Island IOTA (M014 – 16/07): A smashing debut that mobilized island hunters across EU, totaling 217 QSOs in portable field mode.
• Razzoli Island IOTA (M011 – 20/07): A postcard setting and an oceanic pile-up that pushed the log up to 263 valid QSOs.
• Sa Punta de S’Aliga Islet IOTA (Y999 – 26/07): The perfect closure for the insular triptych with 128 QSOs from a wild, untouched strip of land.

To these we add the spectacular SOTA activation from Bruncu Salamu (P062) with 326 QSOs and the legs of the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara (CMSB07) project with 224 QSOs.

Simply a legendary logbook!

Iberian Power

The Spanish team composed of 30DA010 Sergio, 30DA201 Pepe and 30DA202 Javi set a blistering pace for continental activations, alternating natural locations with cultural and patronal marathons:

• Molinos de Alcublas (HV05 – 04/07): A crackling July debut with 244 QSOs portable
• Portet de Sollana (P011 – 11/07): Another nature reference closed with 240 QSOs
• Patronal Festivals Marathon (Late July): Sergio monopolized the second half of the month with special base stations dedicated to traditional Spanish festivities:

– Fiesta de Sant Bernat (CRA006 – 23/07): 380 QSOs (the highest single log of the entire month)

– Fiesta de Santa Maria (CRA007 – 24/07): 329 QSOs

– Fiesta de Santa Gracia (CRA018 – 25/07): 277 QSOs

Central EU on the Front Line

Central European stations also guaranteed comprehensive coverage:

• 161DA135 Sylvester: From Poland, he consistently monitored natural reserves and river islands (IWI), activating Wielka Island (D160) with 80 QSOs and Gajkowska Island (D021) with 119 QSOs.
• France & Special Stations (14DA020 Pascal, 1DA086 Carmelo, 161DA101 Gaetano: Managed precision WBA HB2A special sessions and summer reopenings, securing hundreds of valuable contacts for club awards.

Official Top 10 Ranking

Here is the final ranking sorted strictly in descending order of QSO volume:

(Just outside the Top 10 stand Sa Punta de S’Aliga with 128 QSOs, the French HB2A stations, and Polish river references).

WBA Evolution: Trends & Comparisons with June

Comparative analysis of the data highlights three key trends in WBA’s mid-summer evolution:

1. While June focused on base stations for anniversary celebrations (HB2), July shifted the center of gravity decisively toward nature expeditions and islands (IOTA), confirming the dynamic outdoor vocation of the award.
2. Resistance to Summer QRN: Despite typical July atmospheric noise, total volumes reached 3,230 QSOs, proving that portable setup quality and station output power can punch through any ionospheric condition.
3. Community Growth: The introduction of exclusive references (such as Alex’s 3 IOTA New Ones) generated a peak in QSL and log-checking requests, rewarding the activators’ constant commitment.

Outlook for August 2026

The balance sheet for July 2026 closes with extraordinary success, graced by log records, island discoveries, and unmatched choral participation.

For August 2026, the prospects are scorching hot! With summer vacations in full swing and many radio amateurs moving toward beaches, lighthouses, and mountain refuges, we expect a further surge in impromptu activations and DX expeditions.

Prepare your linear amplifiers, tune your antennas, and keep your battery packs charged: the hunt for world beauties continues non-stop!

73 de WBA Team! Full speed ahead and see you on the air!