It is that time of year again when the amateur radio world starts getting excited about Dayton Hamvention, and Icom have added a bit of suspense of their own.
They have teased a new radio under the code name X-026, due to be revealed around the May 2026 Dayton show. True to form, they have told us just enough to spark plenty of discussion, but nowhere near enough to settle the matter. No proper model number, no full specification, and no clear product category. Just a cryptic name and a lot of anticipation.
So the obvious question is: what on earth is it?
Icom know exactly how to build anticipation
Icom are very good at this sort of thing. Give the market a mysterious codename, release the barest hint of an announcement, and everyone starts talking. It is clever marketing, really. The radio becomes a talking point before anyone has even seen the front panel.
The name itself offers one tiny clue. It is reasonable to assume that 026 refers to 2026. Beyond that, the codename tells us very little. But it does not stop people guessing, and in fairness, that is half the fun.
What Icom’s recent range tells us
If you want to make an educated guess about a new radio, the best place to start is with the rest of the current range.
Icom have already made a few notable moves recently:
- IC-7760: a high-end 200 W HF transceiver, but an expensive one. In the UK it is around the £5,000 mark.
- IC-7100: brought back into focus despite being quite an old design.
- IC-7300 Mark II: a refresh of one of the most successful HF transceivers of recent years.
That mix is interesting because it shows Icom covering very different parts of the market. The IC-7760 caters to those who want top-end performance and are prepared to pay for it. The IC-7300 Mark II builds on a hugely successful mainstream platform. And the IC-7100 sits in a different category altogether, one that feels especially relevant when trying to predict the X-026.
The IC-7300 still matters in this conversation
The IC-7300 deserves special mention because it has been such a strong seller. It has to be one of the most popular HF transceivers of the decade, with sales widely thought to be well over 100,000 units.
The Mark II version has naturally generated excitement, and there has been plenty of demand for it. That also creates a knock-on effect in the second-hand market. Anyone upgrading from an original IC-7300 has to move their existing set on, which means there are good opportunities for anyone who has not yet tried Icom equipment.
If you have been curious about the brand and want a sensible way in, a used IC-7300 Mark I could be an excellent buy. It is a practical reminder that when a manufacturer refreshes a popular model, it often benefits both the upgrader and the buyer shopping second-hand.
The biggest clue may be the IC-7100
The most revealing part of all this may not be the teaser itself, but what Icom have been doing with the IC-7100.
The 7100 is not new. Far from it. It has been around for years, and while it still has its fans, it is very much an older design. Recently, Icom appear to have been bringing the price down, which naturally raises the question: are they clearing the decks for a replacement?
That possibility makes a lot of sense.
The IC-7100 occupies a useful niche. It is the sort of radio that appeals to operators who want broad band coverage and flexibility in one unit. If a manufacturer starts discounting an ageing model in that space, it is often because something newer is waiting in the wings.
My best guess: an all-mode, all-band mobile transceiver
If I had to place a bet, I would say the X-026 is likely to be an all-mode, all-band transceiver.
In plain terms, that would mean coverage from:
- 160 metres through HF
- 6 metres, potentially as part of the HF coverage
- 2 metres
- 70 centimetres
And I would expect it in a mobile-style format, probably around the standard 100 W output category rather than something aimed at the premium desktop end of the market.
That would make it, in effect, the logical modern successor to the IC-7100 concept.
Why this makes sense for the current market
There is a real gap for a radio of this type if it is done properly and priced sensibly.
A modern Icom transceiver covering HF, 2 m, and 70 cm in one box would appeal to quite a broad section of the amateur radio market:
- Operators who want one radio to do nearly everything
- Mobile users looking for all-band convenience
- Those with limited shack space
- People wanting a practical step up from older all-band rigs
The key phrase here is affordable. That is what the market really seems to want at the moment. There is always interest in flagship equipment, but many amateurs are looking for capable, modern, sensibly priced gear rather than a £5,000 showcase radio.
If the X-026 lands in that sweet spot, Icom could have a very strong product on their hands.
What probably is it not?
It is possible that the new radio could be something simpler, such as a dual-band 2 m and 70 cm transceiver.
But that does not feel like the most likely answer.
A straight dual-band FM or multimode VHF/UHF rig would be a far narrower proposition, and it would not line up quite so neatly with the pricing movement around the IC-7100. The stronger theory is still that this is a broader-coverage set intended to replace or modernise that part of the range.
If it is an IC-7100 successor, what might improve?
No hard specifications have been released, so there is no point pretending otherwise. Still, if this turns out to be a new-generation all-band mobile transceiver, there are a few reasonable expectations.
Icom have a habit of bringing something to market that feels a little different. Sometimes it is a genuine technical improvement, sometimes it is a clever feature, and sometimes it is simply a bit of thoughtful product design that makes the set stand out.
So a likely X-026 formula would be:
- A familiar 100 W mobile-class transceiver
- All-mode operation across HF, 2 m and 70 cm
- Some logical technical updates
- Possibly one or two unexpected Icom touches to set it apart
Exactly what those touches are remains to be seen, but Icom rarely launches something new without trying to give it its own identity.
The timing around Dayton Hamvention 2026
The reveal is expected around the Dayton Hamvention in May 2026, with the show starting around the middle of the month. That means there is not a long wait before the mystery is solved.
And between now and then, there may well be a few extra hints dropped along the way. Manufacturers often release little snippets before a major event, especially once speculation has started doing the rounds.
So, what is the X-026?
At this stage, nobody outside Icom seems to know for certain. But reading the signs as they stand, the most convincing prediction is this:
The Icom X-026 is likely to be a new HF + 2 m + 70 cm all-mode transceiver in mobile format, probably positioned as a modern, affordable successor to the IC-7100.
Could that guess be wrong? Of course it could. That is part of the fun with these teaser launches. But it is certainly a plausible reading of where the current line-up stands and what the market would welcome next.
Final thoughts
Icom have done exactly what they intended here. They have created curiosity, sparked discussion, and got the amateur radio community trying to join the dots.
Fair play to them, it is a very effective marketing plan.
Now all that remains is to see whether the X-026 lives up to the speculation. If it turns out to be a practical, well-priced all-band all-mode radio, there will be a lot of interest. If it is something completely different, then at least Icom will have managed to surprise everyone.
Either way, it will not be long before the mystery is solved.
Until then, enjoy your ham radio and keep an eye on Dayton.
For more information please visit our online store or alternatively contact us and our team will be happy to assist you.