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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>Lm</span> Fri, 02/18/2022 - 20:11
Daylight "saving" is baloney. The sudden change with daylight "saving" disrupts people sleep for months and animals feeding schedule for months also . We are NOT saving time. Sun comes up sun sets. Doesn't mater what man says or does man CANNOT regulate sun. I for one refuse to cowtow to DAYLIGHT SAVING time. I shop work and live on the original time year round
<span>David Awerbuch</span> Thu, 02/17/2022 - 11:21
I think we should set the clocks to the half hour between Saving and Standard time -- just once -- and then leave them there. Compromise in the middle ground is the best solution to any situation where everyone has a preference and there is not a serious majority advocating either way. So on March 13 this year, we should spring ahead 1/2 hour ... and be done with it forever. Once the US does it, pretty much everyone else around the world will follow suite .. and then that section of India that is already a 1/2 hour off from the rest of the world will then be on equal footing timewise.
<span>Terri Ring</span> Sun, 03/13/2022 - 03:51
This is the best solution. I agree!
<span>Timothy Miller</span> Wed, 02/16/2022 - 17:18
I'd rather it get dark later, winter is long enough in Vermont and getting dark at 4 pm is ridiculous
<span>Myriam Pierre</span> Thu, 02/10/2022 - 22:24
I think that this whole idea is just ridiculous. Whether humans like it or not day and night happen.Also these days the politicians here in the US are now trying to state that with more daylight there is less crime.Really?In all of these major cities and suburbs people say that there is more crime.SoDaylight Savings means nothing.I am glad to hear that the farmers want it gone.Also the other lie the politicians sell is that the planting and crop season start earlier. We know this is not true.I have already and will continue to sign petitions to save standard time.The scientists must keep presenting the evidence that Daylight Savings Time never worked.
<span>Judy Bosworth</span> Tue, 02/08/2022 - 17:05
British Columbia Canada here - PLEASE - they keep promising to stay on Daylight Saving Time - WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN?
<span>Steph</span> Tue, 02/01/2022 - 10:17
Seems like most of us just don’t like switching between DST and Standard Time. I’m in Australia, Sydney particularly, only the Eastern states observe it, it gets dark by about 8:30pm during the middle of Summer at the height of Daylight per day, where as it would get dark by 9:30pm in Victoria. In Winter it is dark here by 4-5pm, in Victoria about 5-6pm, having DST all year round, would mean it gets dark about an hour later not so bad, but having it Standard Time all year round, means it gets dark a little earlier which helps most kids, let alone Adults, get to sleep earlier. My biggest complaint about DST as a kid was that it was still light outside and I had to be in bed, was very hard to go to sleep when you don’t have Blackout Curtains and there is light still coming into your room. I agree with the General Consensus here, pick a Time and stick with it, we’re all over switching and I personally don’t care which one we follow, I just want to have a routine damn it!
<span>Abid</span> Tue, 12/21/2021 - 21:28
Why bring Benjamin Franklin into this ? ! It is not his prescribed method that is being followed. His proposal was to match the life style with nature's clock but here we can see timekeepers are forcing the clock to match with life style.
<span>Diane Krohn</span> Mon, 11/08/2021 - 10:48
End DST, stop messing with the animals schedules. Those that want to get up early can get up with the sun if they want.
<span>Frank Lesley</span> Sun, 11/07/2021 - 08:54
Mostly agree this practice is just another government intervention into citizens lives to show the control they have over the entire country. “With great power comes great responsibility.” Animals do not function on clock time nor do the many plants and trees. They can be manipulated tricked into thinking it’s sunny when the heat lamps etc. are turned on in a green house. We are not at war, this is not 1916, there is no evidence showing any savings or change to electric or gas usage, at least not on my electric or gas bills?! Amend the old federal law and let us be free of at least this one effort by the government to control us. Thanks for reading