Daylight Saving Time

What Is Daylight Saving Time?

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting clocks forward by one hour in spring and back by one hour in autumn. The goal is to shift one hour of daylight from morning to evening during the warmer months. About 70 countries use DST, affecting roughly 1.6 billion people. Most of North America and Europe observe it; most of Asia, Africa, and South America do not. Full explanation of how DST works →

When Does DST Start and End in 2026?

In the United States and Canada, Daylight Saving Time in 2026 begins on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 2:00 AM (clocks spring forward to 3:00 AM) and ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 2:00 AM (clocks fall back to 1:00 AM). This follows the rule set by the Energy Policy Act of 2005: second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November.

In Europe and the United Kingdom, summer time begins on Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 1:00 AM UTC and ends on Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 1:00 AM UTC. All EU member states change clocks at the same absolute moment.

Between March 8 and March 29, 2026, the US has already moved to DST while Europe has not — the New York–London time difference temporarily drops from 5 hours to 4.

For the full breakdown by region, including Australia, New Zealand, and countries that recently abolished DST, see the complete 2026 DST schedule. Need a quick reference? See when does DST start for a one-page answer. Planning ahead? The 2027 DST dates are also available.

Which Countries Use Daylight Saving Time?

About 70 countries and territories observe DST, concentrated mainly in North America, Europe, and parts of Oceania and South America. The remaining ~180 countries — including most of Africa, all of mainland Asia, and most of South America — do not change their clocks.

Some countries have recently stopped observing DST. Mexico abolished DST for most of the country in 2022. Brazil suspended DST in 2019. Russia moved to permanent standard time in 2014, and Turkey adopted permanent summer time in 2016.

The full country-by-country DST table covers 248 countries and territories with their clock change dates for 2026 and 2027.

Why Does Daylight Saving Time Exist?

Daylight Saving Time shifts one hour of morning daylight to the evening. The original rationale was energy conservation — Germany first adopted DST in 1916 during World War I to reduce coal consumption for artificial lighting. The United States followed in 1918, repealed it after the war, and reinstated it during World War II.

Today, the energy argument is weaker. Modern air conditioning and heating often offset any lighting savings. A 2008 US Department of Energy study found the extended DST schedule saved only about 0.5% of electricity per day. Supporters now emphasize more evening daylight for recreation, retail activity, and outdoor safety. Critics point to documented health effects after the spring transition, including increased heart attack risk and disrupted sleep patterns.

The debate over whether to keep, abolish, or make DST permanent continues in both the United States and the European Union. For the full story from Benjamin Franklin's 1784 satire to modern legislative proposals, see the history of Daylight Saving Time. The benefits and drawbacks of DST page covers the evidence on both sides.

Places That Don't Observe DST

Not every part of a DST-observing country changes its clocks. Several well-known regions have opted out:

• Arizona (US) — most of the state stays on Mountain Standard Time year-round. The Navajo Nation within Arizona is an exception and does observe DST.
• Hawaii (US) — Hawaii's near-equatorial latitude means day length varies little, making DST unnecessary.
• Saskatchewan (Canada) — most of the province stays on Central Standard Time year-round, though a few border communities near Lloydminster follow Alberta's DST.
• Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia — these Australian states and territories do not observe DST, while the southeastern states do.
• Iceland — stays on GMT year-round despite its high latitude.

For a detailed look at every major exception, including why each region opted out and how it affects travelers, see the DST exceptions page.

DST vs. Standard Time

Standard time is the base time for a given time zone. DST advances clocks by one hour — for example, Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC−5) becomes Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC−4). The debate over permanent DST versus permanent standard time has intensified in recent years, with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine favoring permanent standard time and the US Senate's Sunshine Protection Act proposing permanent DST.

Last reviewed: March 2026. Data sources: official government publications and worldwideclock.com.