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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>David Horner</span> Sat, 03/07/2020 - 23:47
I think that if people want to work in the early sunny hours let them change their hours. Changing the clock screws up my intermal clock something terrible. i go by the sun not the arbitrary number.
<span>Amina</span> Sat, 03/07/2020 - 23:27
I just don't get how it works. I set my alarm for 6am and it woke me up at 5am. I am in Nigeria and it doesn't work here but cos I use this alarm phone whenever I'm in the US, I'm automatically drawn in. Let nature take its cause. No to DST!
<span>Bill</span> Sat, 03/07/2020 - 22:53
I love daylight savings time--gives me an extra hour in the evening to enjoy non-rushed activity time with family and friends, do chores, etc. I wish we had it all year.
<span>Ed Gibney</span> Sat, 03/07/2020 - 07:20
As one who likes to rise early to have time to do a few things before work I’ve always hated daylight savings time. If people want to start work early they should change their work schedule not the clock!
<span>Demelza</span> Sat, 03/07/2020 - 00:32
We need to end DST right now! Turning the clocks forward at its beginning wreaks havoc with my circadian rhythm, and losing an hour of sleep makes me feel sleep-deprived and slightly jet lagged. For the few days after, there is an increase in car accidents because people have a hard time adjusting to the new time. Since there is little evidence it saves energy, it should be abandoned ASAP.
<span>Jojo</span> Fri, 03/06/2020 - 23:49
I would rather see us not 'fall back' in November than to kill DST. I love having more light in the evening than the morning. For those of us who live up north, if we stopped DST the sun would start rising about 330am in the summertime - not good!! For the winter months, the sun goes down about 430pm, before we even come home from work...…. My vote is once we spring ahead in March, end the changing of time - Please! Thank you, JoJo
<span>Zeffan</span> Fri, 03/06/2020 - 21:18
END IT ALREADY!! It's absolutely idiotic to keep changing clocks. DST makes it stay light later in the evening. I blame DST partially for the demise of drive-in theaters! Fewer people are willing/able to stay up late to watch a movie or two.
<span>Joel Wolfe</span> Fri, 03/06/2020 - 20:46
The sun will rise, & set regardless of what our clocks say. Why not just keep the clock at one time and work on fixing more important things. Let farmers do the important job of food and government mind it own business. They have enough to deal with then this Mickey mouse problem.
<span>Diane</span> Fri, 03/06/2020 - 16:28
Get rid of it. I'm just getting used to seeing daylight at 6 am, after the switch, it will be dark at 7am again. Ugh. I like morning light. The earlier the better.
<span>Nadia Nichols</span> Fri, 03/06/2020 - 13:12
End it. Cutting off one end of the blanket and stitching it onto the other end doesn't make the blanket any longer. Standard time keeps the kids who are going to school much safer early in the morning. Early to bed, early to rise...remember that saying?