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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>Jerry W Carman</span> Thu, 03/09/2023 - 07:18
Remember 1974? Permanent daylight savings time was tried, but it didn't work. When are you ever gonna learn?
<span>Will</span> Wed, 03/08/2023 - 13:19
I think we should all turn the clock back one hour, every hour, on the hour. Then time would stand still and we would all live forever!
<span>Mariam</span> Mon, 03/06/2023 - 09:02
hi, are these dates for the clocks changing correct? The government website says the 26th of March but this article says 13th of March.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 03/07/2023 - 08:40

These dates are for the United States and Canada. Other countries may follow different dates for Daylight Saving. In the UK, for example, DST does indeed start on March 26 this year!

 <span>Kay</span> Mon, 03/06/2023 - 03:45
I for one am not burning candles nor coal and there isn't a world war currently in progress and no war related air raid blackouts required. It is nobody's business who sleeps in and who doesn't and the idea that everybody has to keep the exact same sleep schedule is archaic patriarchal idiocy and just about controlling everyone, reforming them and making them all fit into the same identical box. Regardless of what the clock says I keep my own hours that meet with own preferences and requirements. Farm animals couldn't care less what the arms on a clock says -- they want to be fed, milked, etc. when they've always needed to be fed, milked, etc. Many businesses today operate around the clock and people have rights so may legally choose to work any of the various shifts including night shifts that are better suited to their preferred sleep patterns or that meets the needs of their pocket books. When the clock changes this costs businesses money due to having to pay overtime to one shift while for the other shift it is the workers who lose money while some will split the hour and pays half an hour of overtime to both the off-going and in-coming shift workers. The time in which the clock changes doesn't match with the changing of the sunlight ... it occurs ahead of time ... so initially children are walking to school or waiting for the school bus in pitch darkness in certain areas or going to bed later so waking up with difficulty and cranky and falling asleep in class at school during the "adjustment period" and adults fare no better making the adjustment. Similar tactics were once used (albeit on a larger scale) to torture POWs. Street lights, lighted billboards, neon and other lighted business signs, security lights, ATM machines, train crossing signals and arms, etc. are on all night long whether people are asleep or awake and whether businesses are open or closed so DLS is certainly not being done to save energy! The entire concept of springing forward and falling back is pointless and utterly ridiculous in modern times.
<span>Ann H</span> Sun, 11/05/2023 - 02:21
Yes, absolutely agree!
<span>Robynn A Berger</span> Sat, 10/21/2023 - 00:39
I agree 100 percent!
<span>Mike</span> Sat, 03/11/2023 - 12:52
Don't change the time you get up if you don't want to. Sleep in if you want to. Daylight saving time saves energy you get to experience more daylight.
<span>Jill</span> Fri, 10/20/2023 - 11:05
It doesn’t save energy. Are your lights on in the dark mornings? Are you still running your furnace in the cold early spring mornings? Do you still use your air conditioning in the summer regardless of the time? Any energy savings at night is just transferred over to the morning. It’s an illogical argument that doesn’t make sense.
<span>Whitewolf</span> Fri, 10/20/2023 - 14:23
I agree 100%. Too bad the powers to be don't get it.