Daylight Saving Time in Mexico — 2026 Update

Mexico abolished Daylight Saving Time for most of the country in October 2022. As of 2026, only the Baja California border zone continues to observe clock changes, aligned with the US Pacific time schedule. The rest of Mexico stays on a fixed UTC offset year-round.

2026 DST Dates

Clocks Spring Forward
March 8, 2026
Baja California (border zone) only — aligned with US Pacific DST schedule
Clocks Fall Back
November 1, 2026
Baja California (border zone) only — clocks fall back with US Pacific time
Rule: Most of Mexico: No DST since October 2022 · Baja California border zone: follows US Pacific DST

Daylight Saving Time in Mexico — Details

When did Mexico abolish Daylight Saving Time?

Mexico's Congress passed a law in October 2022 eliminating DST for most of the country. The last clock change for most Mexican states was on October 30, 2022. Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Cancún, and all other major cities now stay on their standard UTC offset year-round.

Which part of Mexico still observes DST?

Only the Baja California "border zone" (Municipio de Mexicali and the Tijuana–Ensenada corridor) continues to observe DST, synchronized with the US Pacific time zone. This exception exists to maintain business continuity with California and other US border states. Baja California springs forward on March 8, 2026 and falls back on November 1, 2026.

What time zone is Mexico City in 2026?

Mexico City is on Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) year-round since 2022. There are no clock changes. Previously Mexico City was on CDT (UTC-5) during summer — that no longer applies.

Mexican time zones in 2026 (no DST)

Most of Mexico: Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) · Sonora: Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7) · Baja California Sur & Sinaloa: Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7) · Baja California border zone: Pacific time, follows US DST (PST/PDT, UTC-8/-7).

Frequently Asked Questions — DST Mexico 2026

Does Mexico observe daylight saving time in 2026?
No — most of Mexico does not observe DST in 2026. Mexico abolished daylight saving time in October 2022. The only exception is the Baja California border zone, which still follows the US Pacific DST schedule.
When did Mexico stop daylight saving time?
Mexico ended DST for most of the country after October 30, 2022, when Congress passed legislation abolishing clock changes. The law took effect immediately.
What time zone is Cancún in?
Cancún is in the Eastern Standard Time zone (EST, UTC-5) year-round. It moved from Central time to Eastern time in 2015, and has not observed DST since then.
What time zone is Tijuana in 2026?
Tijuana (Baja California border zone) still observes DST and is synchronized with California. It is on PST (UTC-8) in winter and PDT (UTC-7) during DST (March 8 – November 1, 2026).
What is the time difference between Mexico City and New York in 2026?
Mexico City is on CST (UTC-6) year-round. New York is on EST (UTC-5) in winter and EDT (UTC-4) in summer. So: winter = 1 hour difference, summer (DST) = 2 hours difference. Mexico City no longer shifts its clocks, so the gap changes based only on New York's DST schedule.
DST dates sourced from IANA Time Zone Database and official government announcements.