The biggest SW event of the year is happening this weekend! Special BBC Broadcast to Antarctica!

The BBC Midwinter Broadcast to Antarctica is one of the rarest and most fascinating events on the shortwave radio calendar. Taking place only once a year, this unique BBC World Service transmission is intended for just a few dozen British scientists and support staff overwintering at research stations in Antarctica during the dark and cold winter months. Isolated from the world, this SW event is a heart-warming reminder of the importance of radio. In this video I discuss the likely transmitters in the United Kingdom, Ascension Island and the United Arab Emirates. The transmission will go out on 21 June 2026 at 21:30 UTC on various frequencies. Whether you're an experienced DXer or just discovering the world of shortwave radio, the BBC Midwinter Broadcast is a perfect example of why international broadcasting remains so special. There is only one opportunity each year to hear this unique programme over the air, making it one of the highlights of the DXing calendar. 00:00 BBC Midwinter Broadcast to Antarctica 2026 01:40 Target audience: Isolated scientists in Antarctica 02:28 The 2026 broadcast arrived quietly 02:55 Likely shortwave frequencies for 2026 BBC Midwinter Broadcast Picture credits: Antarctic Peninsula: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons Rothera Base: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Rothera Base: Apacheeng lead at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b..., via Wikimedia Commons Haley VI Base: Hugh Broughton Architects, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons #shortwave #shortwaveradio #dxing #swl #bbc #bbcworldservice #antarctica #midwinter #hamradio #radio #hf #worldservice #britishantarcticsurvey #shortwavelistening #radiodx