The 2026 fall back date
In the United States and Canada, daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 2:00 a.m. local time. Clocks move back one hour to 1:00 a.m., which means you get an extra hour of sleep that night. Sunrise comes earlier the next morning, but sunset also arrives about an hour earlier, so evenings get dark much sooner.
Europe and the UK change first
The European Union and the United Kingdom end summer time a week earlier, on Sunday, October 25, 2026. For one week, the usual time difference between New York and London shrinks from five hours to four, which often causes missed meetings and flight confusion. If you work across time zones, double-check calendar invites scheduled between October 25 and November 1.
Who doesn't change the clocks?
Most of Arizona and all of Hawaii stay on standard time all year, as do Puerto Rico, Guam and the US Virgin Islands. Large parts of the world, including most of Asia, Africa and South America, don't use daylight saving time at all. In the Southern Hemisphere the seasons are reversed: much of Australia moved clocks forward in early October 2026.
How to adjust your body clock
Even a one-hour shift can disturb sleep for several days. Try going to bed 15 minutes later on each of the four nights before the change, get bright light in the morning and avoid heavy meals late in the evening. Young children and pets usually adapt best if you shift their routine gradually. Use our hours to minutes converter if you want to plan the 15-minute steps exactly.
Devices and appliances
Phones, computers and most smart watches update automatically. Oven clocks, car dashboards, microwaves and some wall clocks don't, so set a reminder to change them on Sunday morning. It's also a traditional moment to test smoke-alarm batteries.
Will daylight saving time become permanent?
Proposals such as the Sunshine Protection Act to keep permanent daylight time have been debated for years, but as of 2026 federal law still requires the twice-yearly change for states that observe DST. Watch the news for updates before planning 2027 schedules.
Frequently asked questions
What date does daylight saving time end in 2026?
Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 2:00 a.m. local time in the US and Canada.
Do we gain or lose an hour?
You gain an hour; clocks go back from 2:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
When does Europe end summer time in 2026?
Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Which US states don't observe DST?
Hawaii and most of Arizona stay on standard time all year.