The Pacific Islands DXpedition Group is about to run one of the most ambitious DXpeditions of the year — and the veterans are deliberately handing the microphone to the kids. From November 16 through December 4, 2026, VK9XY will operate from Christmas Island in a partnership with Youth on the Air, with the eight-operator on-island team composed entirely of operators under 25, led by Max Freedman, N4ML. Experienced DXpeditioners Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, and Gregg Marco, W6IZT, are along as advisors — but as W6IZT puts it, the young operators have earned the lead.
The innovation goes beyond the island. PIDXG will deploy two NexGen RiB2 remote radio systems about 600 meters from the main operating site, and roughly forty young operators around the world will run DXpedition pileups remotely through DXter, a new cloud-based system that works entirely in a web browser — no software to install — supporting CW, SSB, and digital modes. The remote team is training throughout October on the actual RiB2 stations, led by remote team leaders Kees, W0AAE, and Steve, KI4WKR. For a young ham who can never afford a trip to a remote island, working a major DXpedition from a laptop is a genuine first.
On the island, expect serious operations: around-the-clock coverage with emphasis on 160, 80, and 40 meters, FlexRadio stations, amplifiers, and even an EME station. The team plans to operate for roughly 18 days, and the veterans-turned-mentors want the young operators to experience the full arc of a major activation.
VK9XY sits in the middle of a packed late-season DX calendar. FW3GT is active from Futuna October 31 to November 14, S9R operates from São Tomé October 17 to 31, and HD4W will be on from Ecuador November 15 to 22. When that pileup you are working comes back to a young operator running a DXpedition for the first time, give them a clean, crisp exchange — your next contact might just be with the future of the hobby.