For daily wit & wisdom, get the Almanac newsletter.

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

More Like This

Comments

<span>Snore Crackleshack</span> Wed, 03/08/2023 - 09:38
So?
<span>Esther</span> Sat, 03/11/2023 - 09:57
thank you for the information about the DST , and thank God for this technology now that helps me as being a senior to change the time automatically from my gadget . if I have to rely on myself , I would have forgotten it . God bless you all !
<span>Tony Ianni</span> Sun, 03/05/2023 - 11:03
I’m for DST. It’s depresssing in winter months to have it get darker at. 4:30pm.Also in our modern world it’s safer getting a school bus than before!!
<span>Anthony</span> Sun, 03/05/2023 - 07:03
I agree with the farmers. Leave Standard time in place year round. It’s more natural. Adding an hour in Spring, then subtracting an hour in Autumn is nothing more than folly. It doesn’t seem to save us anything at either change point.
<span>Jill</span> Thu, 03/02/2023 - 11:19
I loved daylight saving time as a child because it meant we could play outside later. As an adult I hate it. It takes me a couple of weeks to adjust to it in the spring and I hate driving to work in the dark. When my work day ends, it is still daylight. Proponents say it saves energy. Not that much. You’re still using it in the morning and in my area the sun doesn’t rise until almost 8:00 in the morning in the winter. It’s more dangerous for children walking to school or the bus stop in the dark. I’m glad the bill to enact permanent DST stalled in Congress and hope it will never pass if it’s reintroduced. I favor a bill to eliminate it altogether and keep Standard Time all year round. In my opinion, it doesn’t need to be light until almost 9:00 in the evening for summer!
<span>Michael Juran</span> Thu, 03/02/2023 - 00:40
I find it interesting that the time we're on for about four months out of 12 is call "Standard Time". Maybe we should change things and refer to what we now call "Daylight Saving Time" as "Standard Time", and what we now refer to as "Standard Time" as "Daylight Reduction Time".
<span>David Kasanow</span> Tue, 02/28/2023 - 11:45
This DST is bogus and should be gotten rid of. Atheist warmonger politicians.
<span>Myriam Pierre</span> Mon, 01/30/2023 - 19:22
There is a proposal to do that by half an hour instead of a full hour.Look on Google for petitions to end Daylight Savings Time.I think so.It is not fun especially in the spring to have to lose that extra hour of sleep.Also I am not trying to offend anyone here.I do have a Faith in the Most High.He had intended for humans to have light 24/7 but because of the disobedience to him,He decided to leave darkness in place.No human being can ever supply permanent daylight.Are they thinking about animals who depend on the evenings to hunt and survive?Especially raccoons.I am not a fan of that animal, but when that is done, there will be increased attacks as they will be angry that this has happened.Also that untruth that crime is less during the day.Statistics continue to show that especially in these last few years that crime has I increased more during the daylight hours,especially in the suburbs.That Daylight Savings Time was created out of greed.Also who with sense would golf in the winter months?Just like who would do their planting in the winter?The only thing is to understand that day and night were always here and will remain so.I think just letting the sun and moon function as they have been since the beginning of time should just remain that way.Also,the earth does tilt after the Longest day of the year.So mankind will never alter that no matter what is tried.
<span>Michael</span> Tue, 02/28/2023 - 01:12
Daylight saving time will not end this year. Congress has already passed the bill that when we change clock forward it will not change back. That was passed last year in 2022. Copy direct from senate : On Tuesday, the Senate unanimously approved the Sunshine Protection Act, which would end the practice of changing the clocks twice a year by November 2023 and bring peace to those Americans whose serotonin crashes when it gets dark in the middle of the afternoon for no good reason at all.” Mar 17, 2022
<span>Jill</span> Mon, 03/06/2023 - 12:10
The previous bill stalled in the House because of more pressing business and because they couldn’t agree on certain aspects. That is why the bill is being reintroduced in the Senate now. So for now DST will end this fall as usual. I for one hope the House will not pass it. Either way, there will be a lot of angry people because you can’t please everybody. I favor the natural rhythms of nature and feel that DST should be abolished — permanently.