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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>Kelly</span> Fri, 11/03/2017 - 10:17
From my understanding DTS gives us more light in the evening.... if we did not do DTS our evening hours would be cut short
<span>Anne</span> Mon, 11/06/2017 - 10:14
Daylight savings time gives up more light in the evening; this begins in about April; we are in the regular time zone in the Autumn; I would prefer more Sunshine in the afternoon; I say; use Daylight Savings Time (push the clocks forward); all year long; Daylight savings is good; all year though; gee we get darker in the winter anyway; why push it ?!!! (maybe its so Commercial Holdiay Decorations like plastic Santa's can glow in the dark more(not) I hate plastic holiday decorations; they cause havoc to marine life; live Christmas Trees can be stored in garage and planted in the spring. AR/Conn.
<span>Anthony</span> Sun, 10/29/2017 - 15:37
The whole idea of changing the clocks is stupid. The time is still going to be the same whether we change the clocks or not, the only reason people say we gain an hour or lose an hour is because of the clocks, but in reality the time never changes the day light does last longer or night time does come earlier and it would happen even if we didn't change the clocks. I think we should stop changing the clocks it's just ridiculous other states don't change there clocks and life goes on so the rest of the country should do the same.
<span>Deb Stvalo</span> Thu, 08/02/2018 - 22:34
I hate DST. I agree that is for the 9-5 er nut I work until 8 or 9 pm sometimes and it so stupid to worry about the time loss. I think you lose either way. When I want to sleep in during summer, the sun rises at 5:30. So what do we do? Will our current president so anything about it? Lol I wish he would, he is a golfer
<span>Brian Mcgonagill</span> Sun, 10/29/2017 - 10:52
Daylight Savings Time takes away an hour of daylight for me to get something done in the evening and that is the only time I have to get something done during the summer months. So whenever I have to do any kind of repairs or work I have to take a day off of work now. I am not in favor of daylight savings time. I am not in favor of changing the clocks if we need to get up early we should have enough discipline to get up early. However I cannot change the time that I have to go to work.
<span>Kathy Walsh</span> Sat, 10/28/2017 - 02:58
Personally, we shouldn't have DST at all. Let everything go according to nature, to the circadian flow. Being retired & disabled, it doesn't really matter whether I'm up or going to bed, at the crack of dawn. As Ron mentioned earlier, during the day in the summer, our AC units have to work harder. I lived in Oklahoma, I have the electric bills to prove it. As Jane said on the 20th, it's nuts having to be on DST for 8 months out of the year, only to switch back for 4 months. Seriously, what IS the purpose of that?? Since WW1, workers have taken on various hours at work, so not all work during the day. We have first shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift and Graveyard shifts. While I enjoy the sunlight as much as the next person, and prefer to go to work and come home during daylight hours, it's a waste. Congress needs to dismantle this creature of time.
<span>Ron Stewart</span> Fri, 10/27/2017 - 09:03
DST may be alright for some locations, but here in southern Florida, it does much more harm than good and is actually wasting energy. Lighting used to be a major consumer of power in the home, but that has not been true for years and is getting less so quickly thanks to LED bulbs. The main power eater in this area is air conditioning and DST makes its gluttony even worse. When most people leave the house in the morning they will turn the thermostat up a few degrees to save energy (a few degrees can make a significant difference). Then, when they return in the afternoon, they turn the thermostat back down. Because the sun is up for an extra hour, the AC unit has to run harder for that time and burns more electricity that is saved by having the lights on longer.
<span>Laurie</span> Sat, 10/28/2017 - 11:50
I understand your point. Living in a warm climate and setting clocks forward - runs the air longer. However living here in Nebraska where it's colder (today in fact started at 17 degrees!! I'll bet that's a record). I get up in the morning - set the thermostat down a few degrees so it doesn't run the heat all day when we are gone. Once we set the clocks back and it gets dark by 5:30/6:00 (ughh!) the heat has to be turned up earlier in the evening. More heat bills for the colder states on standard time when we turn clocks back. However the sweltering summers - yes running the air longer. I think it's a wash for us in the middle of the US. Personally I'd just like the extra hour of daylight in evening. I don't like turning the clocks back for 1 hour in the winter, coldest darkest part of the year. Dark at 5:30 is so depressing. I don't think there's going to be a solution everyone can agree on. Just do away with it. Time is time. The animals/plants don't keep time. haha.
<span>Ron Stewart</span> Fri, 11/03/2017 - 08:57
Hi Laurie, As I said, DST may be OK in some areas, but not in the southern part of the Country. I also agree that it is depressing to have to get up in the dark, but DST only makes that worse.
<span>Penny</span> Tue, 10/24/2017 - 18:00
We should have DST all year. Great to come home from work and have extra light time to be outdoors. People who complain about DST must be morning people who do best early. For those of us who are not more light later in day is great!