19JUL26 UPDATE:

Only One Week until the July 26 FOBB !!!  You can sign up to be a Bumblebee all the way up to July 26^th.   We already have 175 Bumblebees signed up.  So far, there will be Bumblebees in 45 different State/Province/Countries (SPC).   We are going to have a fun time.  You can see where all of the Bumblebees will be using the reports available on https://ars-qrp.com

Keep your fingers crossed for tolerable weather and good propagation.    And keep your ears peeled for our weak DX participants.

Remember the new suggested FOBB “Target Frequency” for each band  ( 3.566 +/-,  7.036 +/-,  14.036 +/-,  21.036 +/-,  28.036 +/- ).   If we hover around those frequencies, we should be easier to find.  The usual QRP Watering Holes are another good place to hang out.  Bumblebee Spotting and Self-Spotting is permitted and encouraged.  You can spot anywhere you want to.

Don’t forget to take 2-3 Photos of your portable Bumblebee operation.   Email your photos with your name, callsign, and a brief description of your operation to:  [email protected].   Your 2026 Photos will end up being posted on https://ars-qrp.com.

(Email [email protected] to get a number for the QRP Skeeter Hunt on 16AUG26).

ORIGINAL NOTICE:

The Annual Summer Flight of the Bumblebees will be held on Sunday, July 26, 2026, during the four-hour daytime window, from 1700 to 2100 UTC.

This casual QRP CW event consists of hundreds of 'Bumblebees' who are operating portable stations at outdoor locations, and other stations who try to work as many of these ’Bumblebees’ as possible.

Bumblebees must use a portable outdoor station, must use an independent power source, must use a temporary antenna, and must use QRP (or less) power.   There are no limitations for the other stations, except only those who are also running QRP (or less) power can submit a score.

Operators who want to go out and setup a portable station at some outdoor location, and be a highly sought after 'Bumblebee', must obtain a new "Bumblebee Number". 
 
The window for obtaining your ’Summer 2026 Bumblebee Number' is now Open. It is a very simple Self-Serve process.   The https://ars-qrp.com web site will explain the whole process.  (Open the MENU and Select ’Flight of the Bumblebees’)
 
I'll be out there as a 'Bumblebee' - hoping to work you during the event.

(Pictures submitted for the 2024 and 2025 FOBB events have all been posted)
 
72,
Jody - K3JZD