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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>John Doe</span> Wed, 03/08/2017 - 13:55
Everyone talks about how they dislike DST. It seems that the majority dislike it. One thing is for certain the days get longer and shorter regardless of what you set your clock to. You don't gain anything by changing the time on the clock. With that being said you should organize a writing campaign and get DST removed for good. Write to your government and tell them you want it to go away and there is no amount of research that can currently justify it. You either run the lights in the morning or you run them in the evening. Take your pick. There isn't a single reason to talk about if you are not going to do something about it.
<span>Ginny</span> Tue, 03/07/2017 - 20:44
I think it's wonderful. More daylight in the evening is the best thing EVER! It seems to always be dark in the morning, so what matter does it make to switch back to the old Standard Time. It's a WIN-WIN for those of use who love the daylight and despise the dark. Please tell me how we can get it changed to DST 12 months of the year!
<span>Alice Broadhurst</span> Tue, 03/07/2017 - 14:31
It's the fact that we have to change time twice a year and disrupt our lives. I'm in favor of DST all year. I really disliked the sunset at 4 pm when I lived up north. Wasn't much fun for the deer either.
<span>William</span> Tue, 03/07/2017 - 10:18
I lived in Arizona for a while and not changing to DST was wonderful!
<span>Rononpi</span> Tue, 03/07/2017 - 10:00
There are so many things wrong with Daylight Saving Time that I could write a book on the subject, but here are some of the most horrendous problems it causes: It is supposed to save energy, but actually it wastes it. Several generations ago, lights were responsible for a significant percentage of the electrical demand for the average home; however, that has all changed. Now we have many different electrical devices in our homes and lighting accounts for only about 15% of our electrical use. As LED lighting becomes more affordable that figure should become almost insignificant. For many of us, the biggest electrical user in our home is air conditioning. Most of us turn the thermostat up when we leave the house in the morning, then bring it back down in the evening when we arrive home. Therefore, during Daylight Saving Time the AC unit runs hard for an hour longer in the evening, costing us much more than what we may have saved in lighting. Daylight Saving Time is terrible for wildlife. Many wild animals are most active in the hours just before dawn and spring time is mating season for most of them. So, now we are driving to work in the dark when the wildlife is most active and not paying attention because they have other things on their mind and they get hit by cars. There is always a large increase in road kill during the first month or two of Daylight Saving Time. I have saved the worst for last. Every year there is an average of nearly a dozen children in this county that are hit by cars while walking to school in the dark. No advantage that Daylight Saving Time could possibly offer is worth that.
<span>Tina Gallagher</span> Tue, 03/07/2017 - 08:55
This time change had its day in an agrarian society. It messes people up- people are late to work, accidents happen, productivity is slowed down because people's sleep patterns are messed up, same with kids. It's time to end DST. We should all write to President Trump and ask him (as well as our congress people) to end the nonsense.
<span>Jan Olsen</span> Tue, 03/07/2017 - 09:47
There is no longer a need for DST. How does it save energy when you're using energy in the morning and hr earlier than normal. Children are left standing waiting for the school buses in pitch dark spring and fall. Our biological clock doesn't coexist with the change either. It leaves people in a sleep deprived state, agitated,unable to work to full capacity. End it now!
<span>Frani</span> Tue, 03/07/2017 - 08:52
I really dislike DSL. It takes two weeks to for all of us to adjust - twice a year. The neighborhood school children will be getting on buses in the dark next week, again, just when it had started to be light in the morning for them! The animals are on EST so the only thing that changes is the clock. Time change is a drag on the body and the schedules! End this silly time practice!
<span>Melody Lecroix</span> Tue, 03/07/2017 - 08:11
With a new age needs to come a new standard. I think we should remain on fast time. I enjoy the longer daylight in the evening and can get more accomplished, times have changed, lights stay on 24/7 in most places. Plus there is a proven drop in work production for over 2 weeks during this change of time either way.
<span>Keith</span> Tue, 03/07/2017 - 07:23
End it or leave it year round. It is just getting light enough in the am for kids at bus stops and the time goes forward next week. Makes no sense. Keep it and forget about these 2 yearly changes in our lives.