For daily wit & wisdom, get the Almanac newsletter.

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

More Like This

Comments

<span>Roxy</span> Mon, 11/06/2017 - 20:14
It’s Nov 5th and the sunsets in Northern California by 5, but I’m confused if this time will be the earliest that it will get dark or does it go even earlier than 5pm. Thanks
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 11/07/2017 - 09:31

The earliest sunset for the year will occur, for the northern latitudes, a week or two before the winter solstice. For latitudes around 40 degrees, such as Eureka, California, this takes place around December 5 through 8, at about 4:48 pm EST. On November 5 for the same area, sunset occurred at about 5:07 pm EST. (November 4 was at 6:08 pm EDT.) So, even after we change our clocks back an hour in November, the sun is still setting earlier as the days progress. The day with the least amount of daylight, however, is the winter solstice (December 21 this year, 2017), because even though at latitude 40 degrees, for example, the sun will be setting slightly later at that point, the sun is also rising later. To check your area's sunset and sunrise times, as well as day length, for any day, you can go to: https://www.almanac.com/astronomy/rise

 <span>Jennie B.</span> Fri, 11/03/2017 - 09:18
Love this line: “When told the reason for Daylight Saving time the old Indian said, 'Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket and sew it to the bottom of a blanket and have a longer blanket.' ” Set the time back to standard this time and then leave it alone already. When we go to DST and set the clock forward in the spring, we're not getting any extra daylight, people. The sun still shines the same number of hours every day regardless of what the clock says. What a stupid policy and I wish we would stop doing it. My vote goes to 'fall back' to standard (regular) time this weekend and then leave it.
<span>Terry C.</span> Fri, 11/03/2017 - 08:43
My grandfather served in both WW1 & WW2 and he refused to change his clocks all his life because as he stated, "I could never get my chickens up any earlier to lay eggs!" Considering how many people are on welfare and food stamps these days I don't think you can get people up any earlier to go to work either.
<span>Anne</span> Mon, 11/06/2017 - 10:05
some states and nations do not use DST because the time schedule interferes with the livestock's feed and grazing schedule; (Russia stopped DST);(rural Russia has many dairy farms) I thought DST was "to allow the school children1800's to work as "child crop laborers more time in the morning!!!;;
<span>Bruce</span> Fri, 11/03/2017 - 07:39
Change DST by 1/2 hour. Now leave it there and one has the best of both standard and DST.
<span>Heather</span> Fri, 11/03/2017 - 11:54
This is the first time I have seen this solution. Brilliant! I hate the clock change.
<span>Colleen</span> Wed, 11/01/2017 - 10:13
Big thanks to all the Navy signalman (oh yeah, there's no more men in the military, quartermaster now) who have to get up at the butt-crack of dawn to raise the ship pennants. Sunrise and sunset, raise 'em and lower 'em. Raise the US flag at 8, but I'm sure that tradition will be found offensive and halted. Guess we need an "Everybody gets a trophy" flag to replace it.
<span>Harrie</span> Wed, 11/01/2017 - 01:37
Ironic that we try to manipulate day/night "time". A clock doesn't change length of daylight or darkness, nor does it change the cycle of when the sun rises or sets. Changing the clock/time on the other hand makes us think so (and makes many crazy too!). Do away with DST or keep it all year, one or the other, but my vote is to do away with DST and go natural.
<span>Darlene Mayfield</span> Sun, 10/29/2017 - 18:01
I hate dst! Already dark and gloomy enough in the winter and it's like jet lag to me for a few weeks!