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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>Al</span> Fri, 03/06/2020 - 10:02
I agree the switching is crazy. I'm for DST year round though. I have farmer friends who don't care, they are up at four anyway tending their animals. DST feels right and daylight longer lifts the spirit.
<span>Chris Jeffords</span> Fri, 03/06/2020 - 09:05
It's SILLY! Especially having it start so soon, when the kids are still in school; they'll be struggling with homework till June and won't be able to "play outside" (as if they did). I agree with the farmers. No "daylight" is "saved;" it's just a gimmick. Let's go back to Standard Time year-round, and maybe then we'll also begin to do other things according to Good Old-Fashioned Common Horse Sense!
<span>Pam</span> Fri, 03/06/2020 - 08:32
End DST. The circadian clock in both humans and animals sets itself by sunrise and sunset. Why try and retrain for 1 hour.
<span>Sherry A Jones</span> Fri, 03/06/2020 - 08:30
It goes against biology to change our clocks and confuse our bodies. it needs to end and the sooner the better! Government once again lied to us about why we should do it. There is no proof that we save any energy.
<span>Bt</span> Fri, 03/06/2020 - 07:28
Would definitely love to see the end of DST. Since “Standard Time” is so short in duration, why even bother to change? People who work still have the same hours. Waking up feeling like it is still the middle of the night, and having to go to bed while sunlight is still streaming in the windows just goes against nature.
<span>Steve Ruark</span> Fri, 03/06/2020 - 06:42
It goes against the natural order, nature knows when it should be light and dark; leave it to her.
<span>Donnie Lewis M…</span> Sun, 02/23/2020 - 11:15
I'm against it
<span>Faye Rish</span> Sat, 02/15/2020 - 13:29
I absolutely hate it. It serves no purpose . It confused people & animals
<span>Dean L Dickson</span> Wed, 02/05/2020 - 12:12
There is a major difference in "daylight saving time" and a person saving or "using" the daylight to accomplish their tasks, chores, work etc. Let the clock alone and abide by the common sense of ' The early bird gets the worm" and "early to bed...early to rise, makes a man(people) healthy , wealthy and wise." Perhaps if one does his best to abide by good common sense... no one would need to think of changing their clocks at all. They would start and end their day when their work begins and ends. Changing clocks is a gimmick in my belief designed by a precept in one 's mind or a group of people thinking they know what is best for all, regardless of the impact on their personal lives... "we are guaranteed by our constitution... 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' ...". This DST is an infringement on that principal. If you are to be at work at 5 a.m, be there whether the sun is up or not. Nature has its own rules and chickens will lay eggs when it is time and cows need milked twice a , day and the clock has no bearing on these chores. Do away with the non-sense of changing the clock so the natural God instilled sense of right time to rise and retire are placed solely in the hands and hearts of the people themselves. just a thought. Thanks dean d.
<span>Yukari</span> Fri, 01/03/2020 - 02:42
I'm more of a night person by default. Well I don't live way up north, usually during most of June and July. It doesn't really get fully dark out until 9PM. Towards the longest day, it's not fully dark almost until 9:30 PM. In winter, it doesn't start getting bright out until 7:30, it would make it near 8:30 before it did in winter. I hate waking up before it gets bright out. Really wouldn't make a difference up north. Most people that work work 9 to 5, so either way you are likely to come home to a dark house. (If DST stayed or not, and I hope it never does) One thing I hate about clock changes. When W. Bush extended the months, it moved the sun into a bad spot. Before that change, the sunrise/set didn't get in the way as much. Now that it's so early, after finally getting it out of the way, we DST and it's back to being in the eyes again for another two weeks. Many studies have shown if we save energy it's less than 1% and studies have shown it also goes up by 1%. That and we really need to update the train time zone map and make it more around a yearly sun cycle for time zones. This way, everyone can win. The nightowls get their earlier darkness at a reasonable time and people who want longer daylight win.