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Daylight Saving Time 2026: When Does the Time Change?

daylight saving time scrabble tiles with a traditional black alarm clock set for 2:00
Image Credit:
SIAATH/Shutterstock
Written By: Jess Sullivan Digital Editor

In 2026, Daylight Saving Time starts on Sunday, March 8, when we “spring forward,” and ends on Sunday, November 1, when we “fall back.” The Sun keeps its own schedule, but most of the United States adjusts its clocks twice a year.

We move clocks ahead one hour in spring and back one hour in fall—losing an hour, then gaining it back. Keep the date chart below handy, check which places skip the change, and discover why farmers shouldn’t get the blame!

Daylight Saving Time Dates for 2026

“Spring forward, fall back” is a simple way to remember which direction the clock moves.

Time changeDateWhat happens
Spring forwardSunday, March 8, 2026Clocks move ahead 1 hour; we lose an hour
Fall backSunday, November 1, 2026Clocks move back 1 hour; we gain an hour

The time changes at 2:00 A.M., when most people are asleep. Consider changing your clocks before bed on Saturday, October 31, to avoid confusion in the morning!

When Does Daylight Saving Time Start in 2026?

Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 2:00 A.M. local time. The clock moves forward to 3:00 A.M., and we lose one hour.

After the change, sunrise and sunset happen about an hour later by the clock. The Sun’s schedule doesn’t change, of course. We just change how our time matches up with daylight.

When Does Daylight Saving Time End in 2026?

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 A.M. local time. The clock moves back to 1:00 A.M., and we gain one hour.

After this change, sunrise and sunset are about an hour earlier by the clock. That means brighter mornings and darker evenings.

Learn more about when DST ends in 2026 and the clocks go back. 

When Does Daylight Saving Time Start and End Each Year?

Under current U.S. law, Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. All times below are local.

  • Daylight Saving Time starts on the second Sunday in March.
  • Daylight Saving Time ends on the first Sunday in November.
YearDaylight Saving Time BeginsDaylight Saving Time Ends
2026Sunday, March 8 at 2:00 A.M.Sunday, November 1 at 2:00 A.M.
2027Sunday, March 14 at 2:00 A.M.Sunday, November 7 at 2:00 A.M.
2028Sunday, March 12 at 2:00 A.M.Sunday, November 5 at 2:00 A.M.
2029Sunday, March 11 at 2:00 A.M.Sunday, November 4 at 2:00 A.M.

Do All States Observe Daylight Saving Time?

No. Most of the United States observes Daylight Saving Time, but Hawaii and most of Arizona do not. One notable exception in Arizona is the Navajo Nation—they do observe Daylight Saving Time.

The U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also do not observe Daylight Saving Time.

For the latest on proposals to stop changing the clocks, see Will We Ever Stop Changing the Clocks? The Fight Over DST.

Why Do We Have Daylight Saving Time?

Daylight Saving Time changes how our daily schedules line up with the Sun, so we can use seasonal daylight differently throughout the year.

The United States started using Daylight Saving Time in 1918 during World War I to help reduce the use of electricity.

The Uniform Time Act of 1966 set a national schedule for Daylight Saving Time. Congress changed the dates again in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Since 2007, Daylight Saving Time has started on the second Sunday in March and ended on the first Sunday in November.

And let’s debunk a common myth: Daylight Saving Time wasn’t created for farmers! In fact, many farmers opposed it when it was introduced—their work followed the Sun, while markets and transportation followed the clock.

Did you know? Benjamin Franklin, the father of the modern almanac, wrote a satirical essay in 1784 about how rising with the sun could help save money on candles.

Is It “Daylight Saving” or “Daylight Savings” Time?

Daylight Saving Time is the correct term. There’s no “s” at the end of “Saving.”

Still, lots of people say “Daylight Savings Time” in everyday conversation, so you’re not alone if you do!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do we gain or lose an hour during Daylight Saving Time?
    When Daylight Saving Time starts in spring, we set the clocks forward and lose an hour. When it ends in fall, we set the clocks back and gain an hour.
  • What time do the clocks change?
    Clocks change at 2:00 A.M. local time in most of the United States, a time when few people are working, traveling, or doing business. 
  • Will my phone change automatically for Daylight Saving Time?
    Most smartphones, computers, and other devices that are connected to the internet update themselves if you have them set to update date, time, and time zone automatically.
    You might still need to change the time by hand on things like appliances, cars, or wall clocks.
  • Does Canada change clocks on the same day as the United States?

    Some parts of Canada still change their clocks on the same schedule as the United States. However, provinces and territories set their own time rules, and several of them stopped changing clocks in 2026.

    British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories will not turn their clocks back on November 1, 2026. Yukon and Saskatchewan also use one time year-round.

    Other parts of Canada, including most of Ontario and Quebec and the Atlantic provinces, continue to observe seasonal time changes.

Calendar
Sources
  1. U.S. Navy Office — Daylight Saving Time
  2. U.S. Department of Transportation — Daylight Saving Time
  3. U.S. Library of Congress — Daylight Saving Time (DST)
  4. U.S. Department of Transportation — Uniform Time
  5. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) — Daylight Saving Time Rules

About The Author

Jess Sullivan

Jess Sullivan

Digital Editor

As Digital Editor of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, Jess is dedicated to bringing readers content that is accurate, clear, useful, and engaging. She has years of experience crafting written communications ...

Read more from Jess Sullivan

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Comments

<span>Tom Furer</span> Sun, 03/08/2026 - 19:43
Had they stuck with the end of April, and the end of October, I believe there wouldn't be so much arguing about it. I personally hate DST, my wife and I are morning persons, and get up at 5:00 am and love to drink our coffee and watch the sunrise. We're not going to change our sleeping habits, so we'll deal with it for a month when the sunrises at our coffee time again. Going to sleep when the sun hasn't set yet, is altogether another struggle.
<span>Leah</span> Sun, 03/08/2026 - 10:39
I Do not like it all this time change had to stop right now
<span>Todd Jensen</span> Sun, 03/08/2026 - 08:28
You know that Daylight Saving Time is in trouble when a factual article on it focuses so much on the drawbacks (including saying about its detractors "rightfully so", and even suggesting that Benjamin Franklin was just kidding when he proposed the idea).
<span>David S. N.y.</span> Sun, 03/08/2026 - 06:38
Keep standard time. Don't fool Mother Nature!
<span>Sharon Brown</span> Sat, 03/07/2026 - 12:25
To the Almanac Editors: Why are you allowing people to advertise here, especially for something like hackers?? These posts should have been removed a year ago!!
<span>Jonas The Hamster</span> Mon, 03/16/2026 - 11:29
I'm a furry and thats offensive😡
<span>Karen</span> Sat, 11/01/2025 - 11:55
There are a lot of differences between this time saving adjustment. I understand both time differences with people, me personally I would love to have more light in the evening because I can get more stuff done when it's lighter in the evening and more light makes me and my body would be happier and not depressed. The kids get more time after school to get out and play and enjoy some daylight from being stuck inside of school for the day. I see it where nobody is going to agree on either of the time change so in my opinion I would say do a half hour instead of the hour change so it works for everybody.
<span>Barry Behrle</span> Thu, 06/05/2025 - 09:18
Personally I just think we should pick one time set and stay there. It’s the constant stress of the time change that irritates most Americans
<span>St3Ve</span> Sun, 03/30/2025 - 07:50
Why were those particular dates chosen in USA. In UK, for example clocks change on the last sat/sunday of March & back last sat/sunday of October?
<span>Nick</span> Mon, 03/10/2025 - 03:27
Daylight saving time is stupid. It's stupid to change what a clock says. Changing what a clock says does not make the time any earlier or any later. Daylight saving time does not have an extra hour of daylight and does not save daylight or time. Daylight saving time does not allow us to use natural daylight better, but has no effect on the use of natural daylight. Daylight saving time does not grant more daylight during summer evenings and does not grant more daylight during winter mornings either. Daylight saving time is just stupid people setting clocks wrong, which is just a unit conversion, no different than changing between Celsius and Fahrenheit, or changing between centimeters and inches. Daylight saving time does not mean that daylight occurs later. In fact, daylight does not occur later. People do not have to go to school and work in the dark. People can and should continue to go to school and work at reasonable times. Changing what a clock says does not mean doing things at a different time. It only means numbering the times differently. Sunrise and sunset are never both an hour earlier or an hour later than they were the day before. Daylight saving time has no effect on how the sun moves. Denoting the time by a different number does not make the time any earlier or any later, just as changing between Celsius and Fahrenheit does not make the temperature any colder or any hotter. Daylight saving time does not end in November. Halloween is October 31 and specifically is when it is because it gets dark so early, so it's obvious that it does not get dark a lot earlier right after Halloween. Halloween is definitely in the dark part of the year. Also, the amount by which the time of sunset changes significantly slows down by Halloween. Daylight saving time has no effect on how the sun moves.