When do clocks change in 2026? Complete guide to DST dates, which countries observe it, and how it affects international scheduling.
When clocks change in every major DST-observing country in 2026.
| Country | DST? | Spring Forward | Fall Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Mar 8, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| United Kingdom | Yes | Mar 29, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 |
| European Union | Yes | Mar 29, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Canada | Yes | Mar 8, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Mexico (limited) | Partial | Mar 8, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Australia (NSW/VIC/SA/TAS/ACT) | Yes | Oct 4, 2026 | Apr 5, 2026 |
| New Zealand | Yes | Sep 27, 2026 | Apr 5, 2026 |
| India | No | Clocks never change | |
| China | No | Clocks never change | |
| Japan | No | Clocks never change | |
| South Korea | No | Clocks never change | |
| Singapore | No | Clocks never change | |
| UAE / Saudi Arabia | No | Clocks never change | |
| Russia | No | Abolished DST in 2014 | |
| Brazil | No | Abolished DST in 2019 | |
| Arizona, Hawaii (USA) | No | Stay on standard time year-round | |
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of advancing clocks by 1 hour during summer months to extend evening daylight. Clocks "spring forward" in spring (typically March) and "fall back" in autumn (typically October or November).
DST was first introduced during World War I as an energy-saving measure. The idea was that by shifting an hour of daylight from the morning (when most people are asleep) to the evening (when they use electricity), countries could reduce energy consumption. Whether DST still saves energy is heavily debated, but the practice has persisted in many countries.
About 70 countries observe DST, mostly in Europe and North America. The US (except Arizona and Hawaii), Canada, UK, EU countries, Australia (most states), and New Zealand all observe DST.
Most of the world does NOT observe DST. India, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, most of Africa, and most of the Middle East all keep clocks the same year-round. Countries near the equator rarely observe DST because day length barely changes throughout the year.
If you have meetings between a DST country and a non-DST country, the time gap changes twice a year:
Always review recurring international meetings around the second Sunday in March, last Sunday in March, last Sunday in October, and first Sunday in November.
Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, so its DST schedule is the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere:
This means there are brief periods (April-May and September-October) when the time gap between Australia and Northern Hemisphere countries shifts dramatically as one side changes clocks but the other doesn't.