When Does Daylight Saving Time End in 2026? Date and Time

Daylight saving time ends in 2026 at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, 1 November. At that moment clocks across most of the United States go back one hour to 1 a.m., giving an extra hour that night. Hawaii, most of Arizona and the US territories do not change their clocks.

The date follows federal law, which sets the end of daylight saving time on the first Sunday of November. Below is what changes, who is affected, where the push for permanent daylight saving time stands and how to prepare.

Daylight saving time 2026: key dates at a glance

Event	Date	Time	What happens
DST began	Sunday, 8 March 2026	2 a.m. local time	Clocks moved forward to 3 a.m.
DST ends	Sunday, 1 November 2026	2 a.m. local time	Clocks move back to 1 a.m.
Rule for the start	Second Sunday in March	2 a.m.	Set by federal law since 2007
Rule for the end	First Sunday in November	2 a.m.	Set by federal law since 2007

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), daylight saving time now runs for about 238 days, roughly 65% of the year.

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What time do clocks fall back on 1 November 2026?

The change happens at 2 a.m. in each time zone, not at the same instant nationwide. When local time reaches 2 a.m. on Sunday, 1 November, it becomes 1 a.m. again. The hour from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. is repeated, so that Sunday lasts 25 hours.

Because each zone switches at its own 2 a.m., the East Coast changes first, followed by the Central, Mountain and Pacific zones, then Alaska. For a few hours on that Sunday morning, the gap between zones is briefly different from normal.

Will I get an extra hour of sleep?

Yes, in effect. If you go to bed at your usual time on Saturday night, 31 October, and wake at your usual clock time on Sunday, you will have had one more hour in bed. Mornings will be lighter for a few weeks, and evenings will get dark earlier.

Why the US changes its clocks

Daylight saving time was first introduced in the United States in 1918, according to NIST. The aim was to shift an hour of daylight from the early morning, when many people are asleep, to the evening.

The current dates come from the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which took effect in 2007. It moved the start earlier to March and the end later to November, adding about a month to daylight saving time. It was the first change to the schedule in more than 20 years. NIST notes that Congress kept the right to go back to the old dates if the change proved unpopular or saved little energy.

Which states do not observe daylight saving time?

Federal law, through the Uniform Time Act, lets a state opt out of daylight saving time and stay on standard time all year. A state that does observe it must use the federal start and end dates. According to the US Department of Transportation, these places do not observe daylight saving time:

• Hawaii: stays on Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time all year.
• Arizona (most of the state): stays on Mountain Standard Time. The Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona does observe daylight saving time, according to NIST.
• Puerto Rico
• US Virgin Islands
• Guam
• Northern Mariana Islands
• American Samoa

In these places nothing changes on 1 November. However, their time difference with the rest of the country does shift. For example, from 1 November, Arizona is again on the same clock time as Denver rather than Los Angeles.

Is daylight saving time becoming permanent? The Sunshine Protection Act in 2026

Not yet. The Sunshine Protection Act (H.R. 139 in the 119th Congress) would make daylight saving time permanent across the country and end the twice-yearly clock change. It is sponsored by Representative Vern Buchanan of Florida.

The bill made more progress in 2026 than in previous years. On 14 July 2026 the House of Representatives passed it by 308 votes to 117, according to the official House Clerk roll call. President Donald Trump has publicly backed the bill. On 15 July it was sent to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, where it remains.

Why the bill has stalled in the Senate

Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas has been the most visible opponent. In October 2025 he objected when Senator Rick Scott tried to pass a version of the bill by unanimous consent. Cotton argues that permanent daylight saving time would leave many Americans, including schoolchildren, starting winter mornings in darkness.

Some sleep specialists also oppose the bill. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine supports permanent standard time instead, saying it better matches the body’s natural rhythms.

As of early October 2026, the Senate was out of session until 3 November, according to Fox News. That means it cannot pass the bill before the clocks change on 1 November. The fall-back change in 2026 will go ahead as usual.

What a law change would mean for states

Under current federal law, states may choose permanent standard time but not permanent daylight saving time. That is why Congress has to act. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 19 states have passed laws or resolutions to adopt year-round daylight saving time if Congress allows it. Reporting on the House bill says states that already stay on standard time, such as Hawaii and most of Arizona, would not be forced to switch.

The Senate passed an earlier version of the Sunshine Protection Act in 2022, but the House never voted on it, so it expired. If the current bill does not pass both chambers and receive the President’s signature before the 119th Congress ends, it will lapse in the same way.

How to prepare for the clock change

Most phones, computers and smartwatches update automatically, as long as automatic date and time is turned on. Other devices need a manual change.

1. Check that automatic time is switched on in your phone and computer settings before Saturday night.
2. Set back clocks that do not update themselves: ovens, microwaves, car dashboards, wall clocks and older alarm clocks. Many people do this before bed on Saturday.
3. Check scheduled devices such as thermostats, timers, sprinklers and security cameras, which can run an hour off if they do not adjust.
4. Look at any appointments, flights or shift times early on Sunday, 1 November. A booking at 1:30 a.m. that morning can be ambiguous because that time happens twice.
5. If you work across time zones, remember that the gap with Arizona, Hawaii and countries that change on different dates can shift. The UK and European Union move their clocks back a week earlier, on 25 October 2026.

Tips for adjusting your sleep

The autumn change is usually easier than the spring one, but early risers and young children can still be thrown off. A few simple steps help:

• Move bedtime and wake time later by 15 minutes a day in the few days before 1 November.
• Get outside in daylight on Sunday morning to help reset your body clock.
• Keep meal times on the new clock from Sunday.
• Plan for darker evenings, especially if you drive, walk or cycle home after work.

Our health section has more on daily routines, and our list of free productivity apps includes calendar tools that handle time zone changes automatically.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: NIST: Daylight Saving Time, US Department of Transportation: Daylight Saving Time, House Clerk: Roll Call 238, H.R. 139, NCSL: Daylight Saving Time State Legislation.