Special event stations apply for, and use, special callsigns that differ in some way from the usual callsign format of the issuing country.

These special callsigns are usually to celebrate a historic national event such as the 60th anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day in 2005 (VE Day – 8 May 1945) for which a UK station was allowed to use the special callsign of GB60VED.

The event need not be national, it could be something happening in a town or village that is noteworthy.

Examples include temporary radio stations being set up in places such as Windmills, RNLI stations or schools.