On 15 August 2026, amateur radio operators around the world will once again take part in the International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend (ILLW) – the annual event during which lighthouses and lightship locations are activated on the amateur radio bands.
Latvia has nine officially registered ILLW lighthouses, all of which are available for activation:
|
Lighthouse |
ILLW No. |
|---|---|
|
Miķeļbāka |
LV0001 |
|
Pape Lighthouse |
LV0002 |
|
Slītere Lighthouse |
LV0003 |
|
Liepāja Lighthouse |
LV0004 |
|
Oviši Lighthouse |
LV0005 |
|
Ainaži Lighthouse |
LV0006 |
|
Akmeņrags Lighthouse |
LV0007 |
|
Mērsrags Lighthouse |
LV0008 |
|
Užava Lighthouse |
LV0009 |
The Latvian Amateur Radio League (LRAL) invites all Latvian and international amateur radio operators to activate one of Latvia’s lighthouses or operate from their surrounding areas, helping to promote Latvia and its coastal heritage to the worldwide amateur radio community.
Baltic VHF/UHF Contest
The same day, 15 August, will also feature the Baltic VHF/UHF Contest, organized by the Estonian Amateur Radio Association (ERAU). This provides an excellent opportunity to combine an ILLW activation with participation in one of the Baltic region’s most popular VHF/UHF contests.
Useful links:
- International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend (ILLW): https://illw.net/
- Baltic VHF/UHF Contest Rules: Rules
We wish everyone successful activations, great propagation, and plenty of exciting QSOs from Latvia’s beautiful lighthouses.
73 and good luck!