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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>Rechill</span> Sun, 11/03/2019 - 08:45
The author stated that president Wilson declared war in 1917. Only Congress can declare war in the United States. Well, at least that used to be the case before police actions and nation building and such.
<span>Marilyn</span> Sun, 11/03/2019 - 01:04
I vote for the return of standard time, all year long, as it should be. When it’s noon on the sundial, it’s noon everywhere. If you must have more hours of sunlight, Alaska has a midnight sun for that. Standard Time has more than enough sunlight for us, manage your day accordingly. It’s healthier in more ways than one.
<span>Kathy Maye Murphy</span> Sat, 11/02/2019 - 10:52
I would love it if we could keep DST year-round! I remember, during the energy crisis in the early 1970s, that we did that for 1-2 years. I loved it! It's tough driving home in the dark at 4:30 in the afternoon and coming home to a dark house.
<span>Dan Roberts</span> Sat, 11/02/2019 - 13:08
I agree that changing the clocks twice a year is ridiculous and unnecessary. It is an archaic practice designed for factory workers during wartime and is not appropriate for our modern age: --but what is wrong with "Standard time"? I too remember the year-round DST in the early 70's. Who wants to get up hours before dark and begin the day in the dark, spending the first hour of work or school in darkness? I thought it was ridiculous: It did not save energy, because you had to turn the lights on during the morning hours. Why not just keep standard time all year? Don't be a slave to the clock, just get up with the sun, as Ben Franklin suggested.
<span>Twilite</span> Sat, 11/02/2019 - 08:11
The sudden evening darkness earlier makes it hard to see pedestrians
<span>Patty</span> Fri, 11/01/2019 - 22:10
Get rid of it!!! Leave it to the government to screw up the time!
<span>Sharon Cardenas</span> Fri, 11/01/2019 - 12:17
It never has made any sense to me why I should loose an Hour of precious sleep in the spring & gain it back in the fall. And the older you get, the harder it is on the body. I've read where there has been research done to see the effects it has on the body. It was found that in older people especially, one the day you have to get up an hour early, there are more heart attacks & strokes on that day. your body has a rhythm & internal time clock. Be kind to your body!!! Get Rid of It!!!!!
<span>Patricia Kiessling</span> Fri, 11/01/2019 - 09:35
I hate having to change times twice a year. Just decide on a time and leave it alone.
<span>David Perkins</span> Fri, 11/01/2019 - 08:53
I don't believe DST is truly necessary any longer. It has no bearing on anyone that works out of doors and those that work inside do not utilize the natural light as when it was first implemented. It seems to have become more of a tradition or event than a true need.
<span>Gene</span> Fri, 11/01/2019 - 01:11
We should go by sun time all year around, as people did for thousands of years. In British Columbia we may be stuck on DST year-round if the proposed legislation goes through to mandate year-round DST all along the west coast of North America. This means every winter I will be driving to work in the dark, since BC is quite far north. Sunrise in December in Vancouver would be about 9:10 AM! I hope something or someone stops this craziness.