When Do Clocks Go Back in 2026? UK, Europe & US Dates

Quick answer: Clocks go back on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in the UK and most European countries. In most of the United States, daylight saving time ends one week later, on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Each region moves its clocks back by one hour, but not every country or US state observes the change.

If you are arranging a flight, scheduling a video call, or wondering whether you get an extra hour in bed, the difference between these two dates matters. Here are the exact 2026 changeover times, the temporary London–New York time difference, the latest Canadian exceptions and what happens in the Southern Hemisphere.

Daylight saving time ends in 2026: the key dates

All times above are local. Across the European Union, the coordinated switch occurs at 01:00 UTC, which is why the wall-clock time looks different from one time zone to another.

When do the clocks go back in the UK?

In the UK, the change happens in the early hours of Sunday, October 25, 2026. At 2:00 a.m. British Summer Time (BST), clocks return to 1:00 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The hour from 1:00 to 2:00 a.m. effectively happens twice.

The whole UK follows this schedule, including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The change gives mornings an earlier sunrise by the clock, while sunset also appears roughly an hour earlier than it would without the clock adjustment. The actual length of daylight is determined by the season, not by the clock change.

When does Europe switch to winter time in 2026?

Most European countries that use seasonal clock changes also move back on October 25, 2026. The change is coordinated at 01:00 UTC under the European summer-time schedule. That means 3:00 a.m. becomes 2:00 a.m. in countries such as France, Germany and Italy, while 4:00 a.m. becomes 3:00 a.m. in Greece, Finland and Romania.

Not every country on the European continent changes its clocks. Türkiye, Iceland, Russia and Belarus, for example, do not follow this autumn switch. Check the exact country or city rather than assuming every part of Europe has the same rule.

When does daylight saving time end in the US?

In most of the United States, daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026. At 2:00 a.m. local daylight time, the clock goes back to 1:00 a.m. local standard time. This applies to cities such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, each using its own local time zone.

There are important exceptions: Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time. The Navajo Nation, including its area in northeastern Arizona, does observe it. Several US territories, including Puerto Rico and Guam, also do not change their clocks. So there is no single instruction that applies to every US location.

Does Canada change clocks on November 1, 2026? Check your province

Canada is an important exception to the idea that all of North America follows the same rule. Many Canadian communities, including most of Ontario and Quebec and much of Atlantic Canada, are scheduled to turn clocks back on Sunday, November 1, 2026. But changes introduced during 2026 mean that several other jurisdictions will not turn their clocks back.

Most of British Columbia adopted permanent Pacific time after its last spring change in March 2026. Alberta will remain on UTC−6 Alberta Time, and Manitoba will remain on permanent daylight time. The Northwest Territories has also adopted a year-round UTC−6 time standard. Yukon and most of Saskatchewan already avoid twice-yearly changes. These are official regional policies, not a nationwide Canadian rule.

Some communities use distinct local time arrangements, particularly near provincial and territorial boundaries. For a flight, online meeting or shift schedule, confirm the specific city’s local time rather than assuming that every Canadian province will change its clocks. The provincial and territorial government notices are linked in the source section below.

Why London and New York are only four hours apart for one week

This is the detail that can catch travellers and remote teams off guard. The UK returns to standard time on October 25, but the US waits until November 1. During the intervening week, the usual transatlantic time differences shrink by one hour.

Practical example: On Wednesday, October 28, a 9:00 a.m. meeting in New York takes place at 1:00 p.m. in London and 2:00 p.m. in Paris. On Monday, November 2, that same 9:00 a.m. New York meeting corresponds to 2:00 p.m. in London and 3:00 p.m. in Paris. If a recurring call is important, verify both time zones in the calendar invitation.

Which countries do not change their clocks in autumn?

Daylight saving time is not observed worldwide. Japan, India, China, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates keep their clocks unchanged throughout 2026. Within Europe, Iceland, Russia and Belarus also do not follow the October clock change. This does not mean their time differences with London, Paris or New York stay fixed.

Example: Tokyo stays on Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) all year. When London goes from BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0) on October 25, Tokyo changes from eight hours ahead of London to nine hours ahead, even though Japan’s clocks do not move.

What about Australia and New Zealand?

The seasons are opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, so October means spring forward rather than fall back in places that observe daylight saving time. New Zealand moved clocks forward on September 27, 2026. The Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria moved clocks forward on October 4, 2026. Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia do not observe daylight saving time.

For international meetings between Europe or North America and Sydney, Melbourne or Auckland, the time difference can change at more than one point during September, October and November. Use named city time zones and recheck recurring meetings.

What should you check before the time change?

• Phones and computers: Turn on automatic date, time and time-zone settings when supported, then check that the device has updated.
• Wall clocks and older appliances: Change them manually if they do not adjust themselves.
• Flights and rail journeys: Read the departure and arrival times in the time zone printed on the booking; do not manually add an hour to a ticket.
• International meetings: Use named city time zones such as Europe/London or America/New_York instead of a fixed UTC offset in your calendar.
• Overnight shifts: Ask your employer or service provider how a repeated 1:00 a.m. hour will be handled.

Turning clocks back does not create an extra hour of sunlight. It changes when daylight falls on the clock: mornings appear lighter and evenings get darker earlier. Many people get an additional hour on the changeover night, but actual sleep depends on their schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Do we gain or lose an hour when clocks go back?

In places that turn clocks back, the local time from 1:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. occurs twice, so the changeover night has 25 clock hours. In 2026 that happens on October 25 in the UK and most of Europe, and on November 1 in US locations that observe the change.

Do all North American regions turn clocks back on November 1?

No. Most US states do, but Hawaii and most of Arizona are exceptions. Canada also has major regional differences: most of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories do not turn clocks back in November 2026.

Has the European Union abolished seasonal clock changes?

No. The EU still has scheduled seasonal clock changes. The official 2026 summer-time period ends on October 25. Proposals to discontinue the change have not replaced the existing schedule.

Will my smartphone and calendar update automatically?

Many devices automatically apply current time-zone rules, but check that automatic time settings and software updates are enabled. On important travel days, verify the local time of the departure city and the destination; older devices may use outdated Canadian time-zone rules.

Official sources and date verification

Fact-checked October 24, 2026. Dates below reflect the regulations and official guidance available at publication.

• UK Government — When do the clocks change?
• European Commission — Official 2022–2026 summer-time schedule
• US National Institute of Standards and Technology — Daylight Saving Time Rules
• US Department of Transportation — Daylight Saving Time
• Government of British Columbia — Permanent daylight saving time
• Government of Alberta — Alberta Time, UTC−6
• Government of Manitoba — Permanent daylight saving time
• Government of Northwest Territories — End of seasonal time change
• Reserve Bank of Australia — 2026 Australian daylight saving schedule
• New Zealand Government — Daylight saving dates