Elektor at 65: Disrupting Electronics Since 1961

In 1961, a new electronics magazine was launched in The Netherlands with a simple but ambitious mission: to help engineers, electronics enthusiasts, and students learn, build, and share technology. Sixty-five years later, Elektor has become much more than a magazine. It is a global platform for electronics engineering, a trusted source of technical learning, and a thriving community of passionate people who love technology. This year, and well into 2027, we are proud to celebrate Elektor’s 65^th anniversary.

Over the past six and a half decades, Elektor has documented — and often anticipated — many of the most important developments in electronics. From analog circuits and radio experimentation to microprocessors, embedded systems, wireless connectivity, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things, we’ve been there every step of the way.

Technology has changed dramatically since 1961, but our mission remains remarkably consistent: to inspire people to create with technology and provide the practical knowledge needed to turn ideas into reality. Along the way, countless projects have been built on workbenches around the world using ideas first shared in Elektor. Countless engineers began their careers by building an Elektor project. Many entrepreneurs launched companies based on skills learned through our articles, books, and educational resources. And many lifelong friendships and professional relationships have been formed through our community.

Most importantly, none of this would have been possible without you. Whether you’ve been reading Elektor since the 1960s or discovered us through a recent video, livestream, social media post, or educational resource, you are part of the story. Our readers, members, authors, contributors, partners, and employees have collectively shaped what Elektor is today.

As we celebrate this milestone, we’re excited to look back on our history — and even more excited to look ahead.

Special Anniversary Content

Over the next year, we’ll be taking a deep dive into the rich history of Elektor and the people, projects, and ideas that helped shape it. Throughout our magazines, websites, newsletters, videos, and livestreams, we will revisit some of the most famous and beloved Elektor projects, articles, and innovations from the last 65 years. From classic circuits and groundbreaking designs to memorable cover stories and engineering milestones, we will celebrate the content that inspired generations of engineers and makers.

In the magazine, as well as on our sites (www.elektormagazine.com and www.eenewseurope.com) we will also shine a spotlight on the people behind the work. We will recognize many of the authors, editors, contributors, community members, and industry partners whose expertise and passion helped build Elektor into the global platform it is today.

Of course, this won’t just be about looking back. Along the way, we will explore how these projects and ideas continue to influence modern electronics engineering and inspire the next generation of innovators.

Whether you are a longtime reader eager to revisit old favorites or a newcomer discovering them for the first time, we think you will enjoy the journey.

Community and Team Favorites

The Elektor archive spans thousands of projects, articles, books, and design ideas. During our anniversary celebration, we will revisit some of our team’s favorite projects as well as community-selected classics that continue to inspire engineers today.

We will also invite community members to share their own memories, first projects, favorite articles, and stories about how Elektor influenced their careers, businesses, and hobbies. Some projects have become legendary. Others are hidden gems waiting to be rediscovered. Together, we will celebrate them all.

Live Shows, Livestreams, and Special Events

The celebration won’t be limited to the pages of a magazine. We will host special editions of Elektor Engineering Insights, livestream events, interviews with industry leaders, conversations with longtime contributors, and retrospectives on the technologies that shaped the last 65 years.

We will also explore the technologies that will define the next 65 years — from AI-assisted engineering and advanced embedded systems to sustainable electronics, robotics, and next-generation connectivity. For notifications when new content drops you can subscriber to our newsletter (elektormagazine.com/newsletter) and YouTube channel (youtube.com/ElektorIM).

Join the Celebration, Share Your Thoughts

In typical Elektor fashion, this celebration is not a one-way street. For 65 years, Elektor has been built not only by editors, authors, and engineers, but by an incredible global community of readers, makers, students, educators, and innovators. The projects you've built, the ideas you’ve shared, the questions you've asked, and the knowledge you've contributed have helped shape Elektor into what it is today. That’s why we want this anniversary celebration to be as much about you as it is about us.

Do you have a favorite Elektor project from years past? A memorable story about how Elektor influenced your career or education? An idea for an anniversary activity, article, livestream, or special-edition product? We want to hear it.

Throughout the anniversary year, we will be highlighting community stories, showcasing reader memories, revisiting classic projects, and incorporating your ideas into our celebrations whenever possible. Visit the Elektor Labs community page at www.elektormagazine.com/labs to share your memories, suggestions, photos, and anniversary ideas. Join the conversation, connect with fellow community members, and help us make this milestone celebration one to remember.

After all, Elektor’s story has always been a shared story. And the next chapter will be written together.