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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>Robert Resendez</span> Thu, 10/14/2021 - 09:09
I agree with the farmers they have a good reason get rid of the daylight savings time
<span>Linda K Stewart</span> Thu, 10/14/2021 - 07:16
If people want to get up earlier during the spring and summer months then set the alarm clock for the time you want to get especially if you want to get more done with more daylight. Otherwise let it be
<span>Kurt Stone</span> Fri, 10/08/2021 - 17:54
Changing our clocks is an unnecessary nuisance that disrupts circadian rhythm and established work routines. End this irritating practice and maintain Standard Time year-round. I grew up in Georgia, at the western edge of the Eastern time zone. Folks in this geographical situation fare worse than those living in an eastern area of time zone.
<span>William C</span> Thu, 10/07/2021 - 09:30
As many have said, DST does not "save" time, simply shifts around when sunrise and sunset occur on our clocks. In this modern world, it really doesn't benefit anyone save anything. The effects on accident rates, circadian rhythm, and livestock are well documented. Do we really save that much fossil fuel by doing this that is makes it worthwhile? Where I live, there is a period of time in the spring and fall where the sun is directly in my eyes driving to or from work (I drive an E/W road). We just get past that, and boom! DST starts (or ends) - extending that process another several weeks. Makes for an additional period of time with increased risk in driving, not to mention aggravation, and sometimes pain. I'm not a morning person, so I hate getting up in the dark. Morning people lose their steam come evening. Either way, we each have to deal with that. Leave the clocks alone so we don't have to deal with it twice. I'd vote for simply using Standard Time; period.
<span>Richard P</span> Tue, 10/05/2021 - 19:12
The U.S. tried daylight saving time year round once. I believe it was somewhere in the mid 70s or 80s. It was too dark in the morning in northern Ohio and I'm sure many other places. This can easily be checked. Just see how much light there is outside about an hour before buses are normally picking up students in late November to mid December.
<span>John P. Ruetz</span> Tue, 10/05/2021 - 18:56
The cows know when to give milk. The chickens know when to lay eggs. The stupid people don't know what time it is. There is only so much time in a day. What will they do on a stormy day when there is no sun? If they can't make up their mind then put it on the half hour and leave it there.
<span>Susan Winegarden</span> Tue, 10/05/2021 - 15:21
I absolutely hate Daylight Savings Time! We need to stay with the real thing: sun time. If you want different hours for your own business during the summer then post those different hours and dates.
<span>Thomas Cameron</span> Tue, 10/05/2021 - 13:05
The belief that we gain one hour of daylight is illusionary. The one-hour gain is lost in the evening and vice versa with Standard time. For those who work evenings or night-time shifts, the sunrise or sunset causes glare for those who drive (sorry ecologists) to and from work. This results in a greater number of accidents until the drivers get used to the blinding light. By staying on one - either Daylight or Standard time, drivers would gradually acclimatize themselves to the different grades of sunlight.
<span>D. E…</span> Tue, 10/05/2021 - 12:45
I believe the rooster crows at sun-up and that is when the day begins regardless of the hour showing on the clock. Do we change the clocks because we are human and think we know more about nature than the animals? Then why do we watch nature to make predictions? Throw the clocks out the window. They are controlling our lives. ( p.s. I don't like changing time.)
<span>Patricia Murphy</span> Tue, 10/05/2021 - 12:32
Someone needs to step up to the plate and get rid of this detrimental time change twice a year. It's ridiculous. The only people in favor of it in the beginning were business people/politicians with money who wanted more time to play golf at the end of the day. For everyone else, farmers especially, this was a horror show and it continues to be one. We love the extra daylight in the mornings. Hard enough to get up, but in the dark??? Make this the last time and this time when we go back to normal, leave it be!!!