Exact dates for when clocks change in 2026 — United States, UK, Europe, Australia, and every other region.
| Region | Clocks Forward | Clocks Back |
|---|---|---|
| United States & Canada | March 8, 2026 | November 1, 2026 |
| European Union & UK | March 29, 2026 | October 25, 2026 |
| Australia (DST states) | October 4, 2026 | April 5, 2026 |
| New Zealand | September 27, 2026 | April 5, 2026 |
| Mexico | April 5, 2026 | October 25, 2026 |
| Chile | September 6, 2026 | April 5, 2026 |
Rule: Second Sunday in March → First Sunday in November
Exceptions: Arizona (except Navajo Nation), Hawaii, Puerto Rico, US territories do not observe DST.
Rule: Last Sunday in March → Last Sunday in October
Note: UK follows the same dates as EU post-Brexit. EU has been considering abolishing DST since 2019 but no final decision has been made.
Exceptions: Queensland, Western Australia, and Northern Territory do not observe DST.
The exact moment clocks change depends on your region. Here are the 2026 clock change dates — when to spring forward and when to fall back:
Tip: US clock changes always happen on Sundays at 2:00 AM local time to minimize disruption. EU changes happen on the last Sunday of March/October.
About 70% of the world does not observe Daylight Saving Time. Most of Asia, Africa, and equatorial regions keep a fixed UTC offset year-round.
DST was first introduced widely during World War I to conserve coal by reducing the need for artificial lighting in the evening. Germany adopted it first in April 1916, and most of Europe and North America followed within months.
The modern US DST schedule — second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November — was established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The EU uses the last Sunday in March and last Sunday in October.
The claimed energy savings are contested by modern research. However, DST persists because changing it requires international coordination and political consensus. The EU voted to end DST in 2019 but implementation has been delayed indefinitely.
Clocks spring forward on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 2:00 AM local time. You lose 1 hour of sleep but gain an hour of evening daylight.
Clocks fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 2:00 AM local time. You gain 1 hour of sleep as standard time resumes.
Yes. Despite ongoing debate, the US, EU, UK, Australia, and other regions continue to observe DST in 2026. No legislation to permanently end it has been enacted.
The US and EU use different rules. The US switches on the second Sunday in March and first Sunday in November. The EU uses the last Sunday in March and October. This creates a 3-week window (March 8–29) and a 4-week window (October 25 – November 1) where the US–Europe time difference shifts by 1 hour.
Arizona (except the Navajo Nation), Hawaii, and all US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands) do not observe DST.
Yes. The US, UK, EU, and most countries that observe DST continue to do so in 2026. The US Sunshine Protection Act (permanent DST) was not enacted. No abolishment legislation is in effect.
Over 30 states have introduced bills to end clock changes. However, under federal law states can only opt out of DST by staying on permanent standard time (as Arizona does). Switching to permanent daylight time requires an act of Congress — which has not passed.
Yes, unless new legislation passes. The EU postponed its planned abolishment indefinitely. The US Sunshine Protection Act failed. Clock changes in 2027 are expected in all regions that observe DST in 2026.