People in areas that observe Daylight Saving Time (DST) will set their clocks forward one hour, from 02:00 (2 am) to 03:00 (3 am) local time on March 8, 2026.
DST always starts on the second Sunday in March in the US. This year, it falls on the earliest possible date, March 8. Standard time, also known as winter time, will resume on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
US clock change in detailCanada also begins DST on the same date, while the majority of Europe starts DST three weeks later, on March 29, 2026.
Affects Most of the USA
Clocks will be set one hour forward in 48 states, including:
The following areas do not observe DST and will not change their clocks:
States That Want to “Ditch the Switch”
Currently, 19 states have passed legislation to make DST permanent, while several others have bills in progress but not yet resolved. State legislatures have considered over 750 bills and resolutions in recent years to establish year-round Daylight Saving Time as soon as federal law allows it, according to our research.
In the US, public support is low—only 12% of US adults favor the current system of Daylight Saving Time, according to a new AP-NORC poll , while 47% are opposed and 40% are neutral. In December 2024, even President Donald Trump called it “inconvenient and very costly.”
Permanent Standard Time Also an Option
Switching to permanent Daylight Saving Time requires federal approval in the US.
Because recent proposals have stalled in Congress, some states have shifted their focus to permanent Standard Time, which can be adopted without new federal legislation.
There’s ongoing momentum in parts of the western US and Canada for permanent standard time. Recent proposals in states like California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho have explored either permanent standard time or permanent DST (often contingent on neighboring jurisdictions making the same move).
Longer than in Europe
The Energy Policy Act of 2005, signed by President George W. Bush, extended Daylight Saving Time to 238 days per year, starting in 2007. This change provided Americans with more evening daylight for most of the year. By comparison, Daylight Saving Time in Europe lasts 210 or 217 days per year, depending on how the Sundays fall in a given calendar year.
Europe clock change in detailMexico Removed DST in 2022
Most of Mexico no longer uses DST. The North American country chose to remove DST permanently in October 2022.
However, the change created some confusion, especially in some areas near the US border. A few border cities (such as Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez) still follow the same DST schedule as the US and Canada, and will also start DST on March 8, 2026.
Other Locations That Change
Also starting DST on March 8 are Cuba, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and Pituffik Space Base in Greenland.
Upcoming DST changesSet Clocks Back or Ahead?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) shifts the local sunrise and sunset times forward one hour, resulting in more evening daylight. To remember which way to set your watch, keep in mind one of these sayings: “spring forward, fall back” or “spring ahead, fall behind.”
The clocks spring ahead (= losing one hour) in the spring when DST starts, and they fall behind one hour (= gaining one hour) when DST ends in the fall.
Time Zone Converter: Find the time in another countryFrequently Asked DST Questions
What is DST?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward during part of the year to make better use of natural daylight. Changing the clocks does not create extra daylight, but it shifts civil time in relation to solar time. In other words, sunrise and sunset happen an hour later, on the clock, when DST is in effect.
Is Summer Time the same as DST?
Saying “summer time” instead of Daylight Saving Time (DST) is common in many countries, like the United Kingdom. The term winter time is sometimes used instead of standard time, which is the official name for the period without DST.
Is DST bad for your health?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) can mess with our body clock and can trigger underlying health issues. This time change can cause disruptions to our body clock, otherwise known as the circadian rhythm.