Spring 2026 DXpeditions: April & May on the Air
A roundup of notable DXpeditions active in April and May 2026, including TX9W to the Marquesas, C5B from the Gambia, and more—right in the peak of Cycle 25 propagation.
Spring 2026 is delivering an exceptional run of DXpeditions, arriving just as Solar Cycle 25 conditions continue to favor 10m, 12m, and 15m. If you haven’t been on HF lately, now is the time to dust off the radio.
TX9W — Marquesas Islands (April 19–30)
The Marquesas Islands are consistently in the top 30 most-wanted DXCC entities, and the TX9W team is bringing a full-scale expedition to the archipelago. Operations run April 19–30, covering all major HF bands with a focus on delivering contacts to operators in difficult propagation paths.
Key details:
- Bands: 160m–10m, including WARC bands
- Modes: CW, SSB, FT8/FT4
- QSL: via Club Log OQRS
The Marquesas sit far enough into the Pacific that long-path openings to Europe and the eastern US are worth monitoring on 15m and 17m around sunrise/sunset. West Coast operators have the best short-path angles.
→ Follow along on DX-World.net
3X3A — Rouma Island, Guinea (April 11–25)
The 3X3A team is active from Rouma Island in Guinea through April 25. Guinea (3X) is a relatively rare entity with limited activation history, making this a priority for operators working toward DXCC Honor Roll.
Key details:
- IOTA: AF-051
- Modes: CW, SSB, FT8
- Bands: 160m–10m
West Africa is well-positioned for paths to both North America and Europe during the spring season. Keep an eye on 17m and 20m in the late afternoon for the best shots from the Pacific Northwest.
C5B — Bijol Islands, Gambia (April 24 – May 8)
C5B is operating from the Bijol Islands off the coast of Gambia, an IOTA group (AF-060) that doesn’t see much activity. The operation runs through May 8, overlapping with the late spring propagation window.
Key details:
- IOTA: AF-060
- Modes: CW, SSB, FT8
- Bands: 40m–10m, with 80m attempts
The Gambia is well-suited for transatlantic paths. With solar flux elevated through spring, 10m openings to West Africa are realistic—worth a quick check even if you don’t hear anything immediately.
FT4JA — Juan de Nova Island
Juan de Nova (FT4JA) is among the most wanted DXCC entities in the world—a French-administered island in the Mozambique Channel that sees activations only rarely due to access restrictions. Watch DX-World and the OPDX bulletin for updated schedules and operating frequencies.
When active, Juan de Nova is reachable from the Pacific Northwest on 15m and 20m via long path, typically peaking in the early morning hours.
Tips for Working DXpeditions in Spring 2026
Use the upper bands. With solar flux consistently above 150 this spring, 10m and 12m are open far more often than they’ve been in years. DXpeditions running on 10m CW or FT8 in mid-afternoon are worth checking.
Check the solar flux before you sit down. SFI and propagation tools like prop.kc2g.com or the DX Maps tools give real-time band condition data. Don’t just assume a band is dead.
Skimmer spots are your friend. The Reverse Beacon Network and DX Summit aggregate CW and digital spots from skimmers worldwide. If a DXpedition is being heard anywhere, you’ll see it there quickly.
FT8 split matters. Most DXpeditions run FT8 on their own transmit frequency and listen up. Check the DXpedition’s published frequencies or watch the cluster—do not transmit on the DX station’s frequency.
Stay Updated
DX-World.net is the best single resource for current expedition news, logsearch links, and propagation context. Their weekly bulletin is worth bookmarking.
Good luck in the pileups—and if you work any of these, share your log at the next meeting.