The clocks go back this weekend across the UK and most of Europe, and for many of us it is the moment winter starts to feel real. On Sunday 25 October 2026, clocks in Britain, Ireland and almost every European country move back by one hour. North America follows a week later, on Sunday 1 November. That gap creates a short, slightly confusing week for travellers, remote workers and anyone with friends or family across the Atlantic.
This guide explains exactly when the change happens where you live, how it affects time differences between cities, and a few simple habits that make the darker evenings easier to live with.
When Do the Clocks Go Back in 2026?
The rule is simple once you know it: Europe changes on the last Sunday of October, while the United States and most of Canada change on the first Sunday of November.
UK and Ireland
In the UK, the clocks go back one hour at 2 am on Sunday 25 October, returning to 1 am. The country leaves British Summer Time (BST) and returns to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The official GOV.UK clock change page lists the dates for the next few years and even offers a calendar file you can add to your phone. Ireland changes at the same moment.
Mainland Europe
Across the European Union the switch happens at the same instant everywhere, 01:00 UTC, so the local time depends on your time zone:
- Portugal and the Canary Islands: 2 am becomes 1 am.
- Central Europe (France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and others): 3 am becomes 2 am.
- Eastern Europe (Greece, Finland, Romania, Bulgaria, the Baltic states): 4 am becomes 3 am.
Iceland does not use daylight saving time at all, so its clocks stay the same all year.
United States and Canada
In the US, daylight saving time ends at 2 am local time on Sunday 1 November 2026. Most of Canada changes on the same night. There are a few well-known exceptions: Hawaii and most of Arizona stay on standard time all year, most of Saskatchewan does not change its clocks, and Yukon has stayed on permanent time since 2020.
The “Odd Week”: How Time Differences Shift
Because Europe and North America change a week apart, the usual gaps between cities shrink by one hour from 25 October to 1 November. This is the part that catches people out.
- London to New York: normally 5 hours, but only 4 hours during that week.
- Paris or Berlin to New York: normally 6 hours, but only 5 hours.
- London to Los Angeles: normally 8 hours, but only 7 hours.
- London to Toronto: normally 5 hours, but only 4 hours.
Your phone will handle the maths, but your memory might not. If you have a recurring video call with colleagues in another continent, it is worth sending a quick note this week to confirm whose time zone the meeting is anchored to.
Flights and trains on change night
Timetables are always published in local time, and airlines and rail operators plan around the change, so a departure printed as 7 am on Sunday leaves at 7 am new time. The one thing to watch is overnight travel that crosses 2 am or 3 am, where journey times can look an hour longer than usual on paper. If you have a very early Sunday departure, set an alarm on your phone rather than relying on a bedside or car clock.
Which Devices Change Automatically?
Smartphones, laptops, smart speakers and most connected devices update themselves, as long as automatic time setting is switched on. The ones that usually need a manual tweak are:
- Oven and microwave clocks
- Car dashboard clocks, especially in older models
- Analogue wall clocks and wristwatches
- Central heating timers and some older smart plugs
- Bedside alarm clocks that are not connected to the internet
A practical tip from experience: do a five-minute walk around your home on Saturday evening and change everything at once. Heating timers matter most, because a schedule that is an hour out can mean waking up to a cold flat or paying to heat an empty one. If energy costs are on your mind, our guide on how to reduce your electricity bill in winter has more simple ideas.
Living With Darker Evenings in the City
The extra hour in bed on Sunday is pleasant, but the trade-off is that sunset suddenly arrives an hour earlier. In London, that means the sun sets before 5 pm from late October. For people who commute, run or cycle after work, the change is noticeable.
Get morning light
Mornings will be brighter for a few weeks, so it helps to use them. A short walk before work, coffee by a window or getting off the bus one stop early all give you daylight when it is available. Health services such as Ireland’s HSE advise people who are prone to low mood in winter to get as much natural light as they can.
Ease your sleep in gradually
Most adults adjust within a few days. If you have young children or are sensitive to routine changes, shifting bedtime by 15 minutes a night over the weekend makes the switch gentler. Keeping meal times and exercise regular also helps your body clock settle.
Stay visible after dark
With more people walking and cycling home in the dark, a set of good bike lights, a reflective strap on your bag or a light-coloured jacket is a small investment that makes a real difference on city streets.
Plan winter evenings on purpose
Darker evenings are also the start of the cosy season. Many cities shift their calendars towards indoor and evening events in November, from late museum openings to food markets and, later in the month, Christmas lights switch-ons. Putting one evening plan in the diary each week is an easy way to stop the early sunsets from shrinking your world.
Will the Clock Changes Ever End?
The debate has been running for years. In 2018 the European Commission ran a public consultation in which a large majority of respondents favoured ending seasonal clock changes, and the European Parliament later voted in support of the idea. However, member states have not agreed on a common approach, so the twice-yearly switch remains in place. In the US, proposals for permanent daylight saving time have been introduced in Congress several times without becoming law. For now, “spring forward, fall back” is still the rule on both sides of the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we get an extra hour of sleep when the clocks go back?
Yes. At 2 am in the UK the time returns to 1 am, so the night of Saturday 24 October into Sunday 25 October is one hour longer than usual.
Why do the UK and the US change on different dates?
Each region sets its own rules. Europe uses the last Sunday of October, while the US and most of Canada use the first Sunday of November, which creates a one-week gap.
When do the clocks go forward again?
In the UK and EU, clocks go forward on Sunday 28 March 2027. In the US and most of Canada, daylight saving time returns on Sunday 14 March 2027.
Will my phone update by itself?
Almost always, provided automatic date and time is switched on in your settings. Standalone clocks, ovens, cars and heating timers usually need changing by hand.
Set a reminder for Saturday night, double-check any transatlantic calls next week, and enjoy that extra hour. Winter in the city has plenty to offer once you plan for the shorter days.
