The Melbourne Hamfest, a two-day amateur radio show at the Melbourne Auditorium, held its 61st year Oct. 9-10, 2026. Adults $10; 18 and under free.
Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. Sources: the Platinum Coast Amateur Radio Society’s Melbourne Hamfest 2026 page and its pages for 2025, 2024 and 2023, with the 2026 dates from the Visit Historic Downtown Melbourne events calendar. This page is updated each year at the same address.
The Melbourne Hamfest, a two-day amateur radio and electronics show, has run for 61 years. The 61st was Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9-10, 2026, at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. The 2027 dates have not been announced. The Platinum Coast Amateur Radio Society, the Melbourne club that runs it, posts each year’s page with tickets, vendor tables and tailgate spots.
Know before you go
- Next Hamfest: the 62nd, in 2027; dates not yet announced
- Last Hamfest: Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9-10, 2026
- Hours (2026): noon to 6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
- Where: Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd.
- Admission: $10 for adults, good both days; free for 18 and under
- Organizer: Platinum Coast Amateur Radio Society, P.O. Box 1004, Melbourne
Recent dates
| Year | Show | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 61st | Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9-10 |
| 2025 | 60th | Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-11 |
| 2024 | 59th | Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1-2 |
| 2023 | 58th | Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13-14, with the ARRL Florida State Convention |
The last four shows were all on a Friday and Saturday in October or early November. We will add the 2027 dates here when the club posts them.
What is there
The Hamfest fills the auditorium with radio and electronics vendors and adds an outdoor tailgate area. The club’s 2026 page listed:
- Vendors selling radios, antennas and accessories, and the club’s own consignment table
- Forums both days; in 2026 they ranged from pico balloons and CubeSat simulators to a hurricane update from the National Weather Service office in Melbourne
- License exams at 10 a.m. Saturday, free, run by the club’s volunteer examiners; arrive by 9:45 a.m., bring a copy of your current license if you are upgrading, and walk-ins are taken
- Prize drawings: the grand prize drawing is at 2 p.m. Saturday and you need not be present to win; for the hourly drawings you must be there
- Youth Tech Workshop: a free soldering and electronics kit for ages 8 to 18; children under 12 must be with an adult, and one accompanying adult gets in free
Tickets and costs
| Item | 2026 price |
|---|---|
| Adult admission, both days | $10 |
| 18 and under | free |
| Indoor vendor table | $40, plus one admission per vendor |
| Outdoor tailgate spot | $20, plus one admission per tailgater |
| License exam | free |
Buy admission, tables and tailgate spots online through the club’s ticket page. Tailgate spots can also be bought on the day at the vendor booth inside the auditorium.
Parking and the rules
- No overnight parking, including campers and RVs, under city and auditorium rules; the club says Melbourne police enforce it.
- Tailgaters check in at the vendor booth inside for a pass and wristband; anyone without a tailgate pass parks in general public parking.
- Vendors load and unload on the east side of the auditorium only, from 7:15 a.m. both days, and must be packed up and out by 5 p.m. Saturday.
- Getting there: see our getting around Melbourne guide.
About the organizer
The Platinum Coast Amateur Radio Society, call sign W4MLB, is a private club and Florida nonprofit for radio amateurs that has been active in central and southern Brevard County for more than 60 years, according to its website. West Melbourne Mayor Andrea Young, a club member, opened the 60th Hamfest in 2025 with a proclamation.
Related: things to do this month, hurricane prep for Brevard County and a guide to historic downtown Melbourne.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Melbourne Hamfest in 2027?
The Platinum Coast Amateur Radio Society had not announced the 2027 dates as of Oct. 10, 2026. The 61st Hamfest was Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9-10, 2026, and recent shows have been in October or early November.
Where is the Melbourne Hamfest held?
At the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd., Melbourne, with an outdoor tailgate area.
How much does the Melbourne Hamfest cost?
Adult admission is $10 and covers both days. There is no charge for anyone 18 and under. Indoor vendor tables are $40 and tailgate spots $20, each with an admission ticket.
What are the Melbourne Hamfest hours?
In 2026 the Hamfest was open noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Can I take a ham radio license exam at the Melbourne Hamfest?
Yes. In 2026 the club’s volunteer examiners gave free exams at 10 a.m. Saturday; candidates were asked to arrive by 9:45 a.m.
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