Daylight saving time 2026: When clocks change and which devices update automatically

Seasonal clock changes are approaching in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, but there is no single worldwide changeover date. The correct action depends on your country—and sometimes your state, province or territory.

Daylight saving time does not end everywhere on the same date. European Union countries and the UK move clocks back on October 25, 2026; most participating US and Canadian locations follow on November 1. Much of the world makes no seasonal change, while Australia and New Zealand are currently moving into, not out of, daylight saving time. ([timeanddate.com](https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2026.html?utm_source=openai))

When do the clocks change in 2026?

European Union and United Kingdom: October 25

European Union member states and the United Kingdom end summer time on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Clocks move back by one hour overnight, creating a repeated hour and a 25-hour civil day. The precise local transition time depends on the time zone. ([timeanddate.com](https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2026.html?utm_source=openai))

This does not mean that every European country changes its clocks. Turkey, Russia and Belarus are among the countries that do not make a seasonal change in 2026. Check the rule for your country rather than relying on a general reference to “Europe”. ([timeanddate.com](https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2026.html?utm_source=openai))

United States: November 1

In most of the United States, daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026. At 2:00 a.m. local daylight time, clocks return to 1:00 a.m. standard time. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe the seasonal change, and separate rules apply in US territories. ([timeanddate.com](https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2026.html?utm_source=openai))

Canada: November 1 in most participating locations

Most Canadian locations that observe daylight saving time are also scheduled to move clocks back on November 1. The system is not universal across the country, however, and exceptions exist at provincial, territorial and local level. Confirm the rule for your municipality if you live near a time-zone boundary or in an area that remains on one time throughout the year. ([timeanddate.com](https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2026.html?utm_source=openai))

Australia and New Zealand: clocks have moved forward

The seasonal direction is reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. Participating Australian jurisdictions moved clocks forward on October 4, 2026. Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia do not observe daylight saving time. ([timeanddate.com](https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2026.html?utm_source=openai))

New Zealand began daylight saving time on September 27, 2026. Its next change will be on April 4, 2027, when clocks move back to New Zealand Standard Time. ([govt.nz](https://www.govt.nz/browse/recreation-and-the-environment/daylight-saving/?source=rss&utm_source=openai))

Many countries do not change their clocks

A large part of the world uses the same civil time throughout the year. China, Brazil, Turkey and numerous countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America have no seasonal clock change in 2026. Even within countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States, participation can vary by region. ([timeanddate.com](https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2026.html?utm_source=openai))

If you are travelling or arranging an international call, check the destination rather than assuming that its time difference changes on the same day as yours. For several weeks each year, the gap between countries can temporarily increase or decrease by an hour.

Which devices should update automatically?

Internet-connected devices will usually change by themselves when automatic date, time and time-zone settings are enabled. This commonly includes:

• smartphones and tablets;
• laptops and desktop computers;
• mobile-connected or Wi-Fi smartwatches;
• some smart televisions and streaming devices;
• connected home hubs and smart speakers.

Automatic adjustment is not guaranteed merely because a device can connect to the internet. It must have the correct time zone, current time-zone information and automatic time enabled. Windows, for example, provides separate controls for automatic time, automatic time-zone selection and daylight saving adjustment. ([support.microsoft.com](https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/servicing/os/windows-server/2020/08/kb914387-how-to-configure-daylight-saving-time-for-microsoft-windows-operating-systems?utm_source=openai))

Avoid changing a phone or computer manually in advance if automatic settings are active. Doing both can leave the device one hour out. Instead, check it against another reliably synchronised device after the transition.

Devices that may need to be reset manually

Equipment without network or radio time synchronisation is more likely to remain on the old time. Check:

• wall and desk clocks;
• analogue and basic digital watches;
• standalone alarm clocks;
• oven and microwave displays;
• car dashboard clocks;
• cameras and video recorders;
• heating and air-conditioning controllers;
• irrigation systems;
• plug-in timers and security-light timers;
• older radio-controlled clocks programmed with outdated daylight saving rules.

Some appliances use their displayed time to control scheduled functions. A clock that is one hour wrong may cause heating, lighting, irrigation or cooking programmes to run at the wrong time. Older equipment can also contain obsolete transition rules, so automatic-looking clocks should still be checked. ([nist.gov](https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/popular-links/daylight-saving-time-dst?utm_source=openai))

Check alarms, calendars and overnight travel

After the change, verify both the displayed time and any saved alarm. Also inspect devices with daily or weekly programmes, because correcting the clock does not always confirm that every schedule remains as intended.

Calendar events on properly configured phones and computers should continue to display at the appropriate local time. Extra care is worthwhile for events entered with a fixed UTC offset or while the device was set to a different time zone.

The repeated hour can also affect overnight trains, buses, flights and work shifts. Operators may handle the transition differently, so check the current timetable and any service notice for the specific journey. When arranging an international meeting, include the city or time zone rather than writing only a clock time.

A quick clock-change checklist

1. Confirm whether your location observes daylight saving time.
2. Check the exact local changeover date.
3. Leave automatically synchronised devices alone before the transition.
4. Reset offline clocks and household timers afterward.
5. Verify alarms, heating schedules and security systems.
6. Recheck overnight travel and international appointments.

The safest rule is simple: do not assume that every device—or every country—changes at the same time. Confirm your local rule, let correctly configured connected devices update themselves and inspect everything else after the transition.

Sources

1. Daylight Saving Time Around the World 2026 — https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2026.html
2. https://www.govt.nz/browse/recreation-and-the-environment/daylight-saving/?source=rss
3. https://www.govt.nz/browse/recreation-and-the-environment/daylight-saving/?referring_site=bodynav
4. https://tnaqa.mirrorweb.com/ukgwa/20261008155452mp_/https%3A/www.gov.uk/when-do-the-clocks-change
5. Daylight Saving Time Rules — National Institute of Standards and Technology — https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/popular-links/daylight-saving-time-dst
6. https://www.timeanddate.com/time/change/uk
7. https://www.timeanddate.com/time/change/uk?year=2026
8. https://timechange.org/mcp
9. https://aa.usno.navy.mil/calculated/daylightsaving?submit=Get+Data&year=2026
10. https://www.playtools.app/guides/daylight-saving-time-around-the-world
11. How to configure daylight saving time for Windows operating systems — Microsoft Support — https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/servicing/os/windows-server/2020/08/kb914387-how-to-configure-daylight-saving-time-for-microsoft-windows-operating-systems
12. https://www.timeanddate.com/news/time/dst-season-fall-2026.html
13. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C15Pv0ys01S.pdf
14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time_by_country
15. https://www.akleg.gov/pdf/billfiles/Committee%20Bill%20Files/Standing%20Committees/Committee%20Fiche-10347.pdf
16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_European_Time
17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Summer_Time
18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time
19. https://malegislature.gov/Reports/5468/TIME%20ZONE%20REPORT_FINAL.pdf
20. https://www.long.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Timezonechange.pdf