Daylight Saving Time 2026: When Clocks Fall Back and What to Know

Daylight saving time for 2026 is scheduled to end on Sunday, November 1, at 2:00 a.m. local time across the vast majority of the United States. When the transition occurs, clocks will move backward by one hour, effectively turning 2:00 a.m. back to 1:00 a.m. and repeating that hour. This annual autumn shift returns observing regions to standard time and provides residents with an extra hour of sleep overnight, while simultaneously causing sunsets and sunrises to happen an hour earlier by the clock.

While smartphones, computers, and other internet-connected devices typically handle the adjustment automatically, manually updated timepieces such as car dashboards, kitchen appliances, and traditional wall clocks must be changed. Experts and safety organizations recommend adjusting manual clocks before going to sleep on Saturday night. Additionally, organizations like the National Fire Protection Association suggest using the semi-annual clock change as a convenient reminder to test smoke alarms and replace batteries.

Not every part of the country observes the seasonal switch. Hawaii and the vast majority of Arizona remain on standard time year-round, with the exception of the Navajo Nation within Arizona, which does observe daylight saving time. Several U.S. territories, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, also maintain standard time throughout the year under federal guidelines overseen by the Department of Transportation.

Despite widespread public frustration with the twice-yearly time changes, federal law continues to mandate the current schedule established under the Uniform Time Act of 1966. Momentum to end the practice has faced legislative hurdles in Washington. In July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act by a bipartisan vote of 308 to 117, which would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. However, the legislation has stalled in the Senate, where leaders have questioned whether it can secure the necessary votes to advance.

The debate over permanent daylight saving time versus permanent standard time involves conflicting priorities among lawmakers, medical professionals, and economists. Proponents of permanent daylight saving time argue that extended evening daylight boosts tourism, retail activity, and outdoor recreation. Conversely, sleep experts and medical organizations, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, strongly advocate for permanent standard time, warning that darker winter mornings negatively impact circadian rhythms, public health, and road safety.

Businesses operating through the night face specific operational adjustments during the transition. Night-shift employees working through the repeated 1:00 a.m. hour log an extra hour of labor, requiring payroll departments to meticulously verify timekeeping software and ensure proper compensation. Furthermore, studies on consumer behavior around the fall transition indicate a temporary decline in per capita credit and debit card spending, driven largely by fewer retail transactions after dark.

Until federal lawmakers reach a consensus on the Sunshine Protection Act, the existing routine will remain in force. Following the November 1 transition, standard time will persist through the winter months until daylight saving time returns on Sunday, March 14, 2027, when clocks will spring forward one hour at 2:00 a.m.