Bouvet 2026: The Most Ambitious Ham Radio DXpedition Yet?

Adrian KO8SCA is heading back to Bouvet. As one of the most respected DXpeditioners in the game, Adrian is co-leading a 24-person team on a high-stakes return to one of the rarest and most elusive ham radio locations on the planet. Bouvet Island—#10 on the ClubLog Most Wanted list—is legendary for its brutal conditions, remote location, and the abbreviated 2023 activation attempt.

This time, the team is sparing no expense. With a $1.6 million budget, a rented icebreaker from IceTugs, and a helicopter for transport, this is next-level DXpeditioning. The plan? A three-week window near Bouvet, with operations beginning as soon as weather allows. Two camps—including one dedicated to North America—will maximize QSOs, making this a must-work event for DXers worldwide.

Adrian breaks down what went wrong last time, how they’re mitigating risks, and why Bouvet 2026 is shaping up to be a history-making event. Don’t miss this deep dive into extreme DXpeditioning and the challenges of working radio from the edge of the world.

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I still have my 1500 ft beverage firing that direction for 160/80 meters, there is not much else out that directions from Kansas!

73 from, Steve
The K0UO " Rhombic Antenna Farm" miles of wire in the Air & On the AIR daily

 

Oh wow,will surely be looking forward to this one, 73s.

 

We wait for it...

 

They have not learned from the last visit. They are taking 12 radios, 6 tents, 28 operators. ONE helicopter. They are on record as noting it will take 4 hours or so to put up a tent due to wind. Have you done the math? That's 24 hours for the tent assembly. You plan on having a SECOND camp up a steep hill 1/2 a mile away? REALLY? How ya going to get those 55 gal drums up that hill? Tents, radios and more. Some one needs to do a major reset here. A far more successful attempt would be a more modest setup in ONE spot. How long will it take to debug a system of TWELVE radios????? That hill, its preposterous to think hauling up generators, 55 gal drums of fuel, supplies, tents is even reasonable. Drilling holes in rocks for tie downs, really? Does that sound reasonable? Oh, and somehow your going to remove the expanding bolts when you leave?

Guys, trim this back to something far more likely to succeed. The wiring diagram from the FIRST attempt was just as ridiculous as two camps this time.

Lean and mean is what is required in such an inhospitable location.

I hope someone will do a major reset here.

 

I agree they are biting off more than they can chew....big ideas,but bad planning, just to get on the air for a few days......bring it back to earth

 

When will this be? EDIT: looked at the page, first of FEB 2026
Last time was when I was unlicensed. Now I have a chance to get them this time

 

I would not bet against Adrian and team pulling this off. 3Y0K.
He's done it, unlike all the DX home gamers.
Look forward to getting you on more bands and modes this time - working you a couple years ago on cw was a good thrill!

 

I will never...EVER...forget the childish 1970s CB like BS THROUGHOUT the last Bouvet event. And the ARRL proclaimed in 2007 the elimination off the code requirement to become a Ham would NEVER lessen the discipline or quality of "the experience" of being on-the-air. The escalation of what it's become today is in fact...BELIEVABLE... and indicative of those void of discipline and accountability in America. In fact it's going on RIGHT NOW in the midst of the VU4AX DXPEDITION. The antics of the aforementioned is only a singular example of life in America.

 

It’s not just Americans.

 

I've been all over the globe as a rep for Boeing. And I mean ALL OVER (Including Svalbard...LOL) Spent a bunch of time talking with a bunch of people in these countries. To say the very least, the undisciplined and their respective shenanigans' in each of these countries absolutely are not tolerated. 73 sir!

 

Let’s review -how many hams are in Svalbard?
I know you cited that as an example, however, the consensus among most well-traveled dx’ers I know all agree the most undisciplined hams typically reside in one particular European country. That’s not to say we don’t have our fair share which is why lots of us prefer CW. While it’s no guarantee of purity, it does minimize the aberrants

 

I wish the 3Y0K DXpedition good luck. Hopefully, they have much better WX than 3Y0J had when they were on Bouvet.

That being said, the barbaric lid behavior happens on both phone and CW, regardless of how long the ops have been licensed (read that as: it doesn't matter if they passed a CW test or not). I hear MANY old timers with extra class callsigns on both CW and phone who display the most selfish, undisciplined behavior. Also, look up the callsigns who abuse the spotting cluster by using it like it's their own personal message board, instead of a place to post valid spots of stations that others may want to work. Many are long time hams who passed a CW test, and they set a bad example for the new hams. The bad behavior on CW and phone is why many DXpeditions prefer FT-8, at least that mode removes some of the opportunities for the lids and selfish ops to turn the operation into a s**t show.

 

SOUNDS like they'll have a better chance. Once I got past the hype from the last bunch "Our goal is a hundred thousand QSOs," and heard they planned to land personnel and equipment with ZODIAC BOATS, I immediately, thought...

"I've got a bad feeling about this."

 

It's not just US ops, and it's not just phone ops, and it went on well before the code was eliminated.

I know, "Details, always details!"