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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>Rich Shelden</span> Mon, 10/07/2019 - 10:37
Only an hour? Let's see: about 100 million households in the US; I counted 10 clocks in mine, including 2 cars, wrist watches, alarm clocks, & wall clocks but not computers; estimate 5 minutes per clock + time to decide to do it; twice per year, comes to about 200 million hours or 25 million working days per year. Only an hour? Add in lost focus and health impact due to disturbed sleep cycles and, at minimum wage (moving toward $15, now), this comes to on the order of $3 Billion wasted on DST in this country each year. Saving this, in a couple of years we could gift POTUS with his wall with no help from Mexico.
<span>Shanda</span> Sat, 03/09/2019 - 10:46
Exactly......One hour isn't going to change your life. My thoughts are take a nap or just deal with it. These people that do all the complaining obviously don't travel across the country or across the pond.
<span>Linda L.</span> Wed, 03/06/2019 - 12:06
I am not a fan of Daylight Savings Time for one people with certain illnesses have to re-adjust their internal body rhythm to this new time which is some cases have cause serious conditions such as heart attacks. My nephew who is autistic has to go through a re-adjustment every spring because it affects his sleep pattern. Time goes fast enough, why speed it up? Sorry to say, I am not convince this time saves anything. Keep the standard time, the days naturally gets longer in spring and summer.
<span>Kim</span> Fri, 11/01/2019 - 20:41
I totally agree that this needs to come to an end. Why let nature take its course. Me and one of my children has sleeping disorders and the time change makes it even worse. Not only with sleep but anxiety and other natural things it affects. Getting dark at 5:00 pm is not normal. In this century of life I feel it’s time to reconsider DST
<span>David Blackmon</span> Wed, 03/06/2019 - 10:57
I wish that daylight saving time could remain in place and never go back to "standard" time again. I get a lot more done in my garden and around the house on DST. Adaptation is easy for my family and our pets and chickens. Farmers can adjust accordingly. I live in a rural area filled with farmers,horse stables and poultry keeps. We ALL love the extra evening time.
<span>Gene Blodgett</span> Wed, 03/06/2019 - 22:15
Oh fer crying out loud, just get up an hour earlier or 2 hours earlier if you really want to get even more done. The number of hours in every day is 24, the number of daylight hours is the same no matter what you call it. The whole DST thing is childish.
<span>David Rumbaugh</span> Wed, 03/06/2019 - 06:53
I HATE it. It has no benefit, but to give city workers an extra hour to harass their neighbors. Let us stop it once and for all time. Or, make it effective from Memorial Day (May 30) to Labor Day ( the first Monday in September ). See how long that lasts.
<span>Ken</span> Wed, 03/06/2019 - 06:37
Not only would I keep DST, but for the three months around June 21st, I would add another hour to it. It would have an economic boost as many workers would be able to then do leisure time activities on workdays that now can only be done on weekends. For many on an 8 to 4 or even a 9 to 5 work day, and businesses, the positives would more than the inconveniences and the complaints of a small vocal minority. Ask many about how much they enjoy the long summer evenings with daylight.
<span>Suewood</span> Tue, 03/05/2019 - 17:06
I love DST WISH I COULD KEEP IT
<span>C.garner</span> Fri, 08/30/2019 - 20:14
I think they should jus leave it DST all year long. then everyone would get acclimatized and stay that way.