Every spring, millions of people lose an hour of sleep for a reason that has nothing to do with late nights or early alarms. The clocks simply move forward. Daylight saving time returns this weekend in much of North America, bringing a familiar seasonal shift.
Many people barely notice it because their phones and computers are automatically set. Still others remember to change wall clocks, ovens and car dashboards before going to bed. The idea behind daylight saving time is fairly simple. It shifts an hour of daylight from morning to evening during the warmer months. Supporters say it gives people longer evenings to enjoy outdoor activities. Critics say the system disrupts sleep and may not save much energy at all.
Daylight Saving Time: When clocks go forward in March 2026
According to Forbes, in 2026, daylight saving time will begin at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, March 8, in most parts of the United States and Canada. At that moment, the clock advances by exactly one hour. This means that when the clock reaches 1:59 AM, the next minute becomes 3:00 AM. The hour between those times simply disappears. Many people wake up on Sunday morning, realizing that they effectively lost an hour overnight.
Most digital devices update automatically because they are connected to time servers. However, many people notice the change when they see an incorrect time on their kitchen appliances or the clock inside their car. Daylight saving time remains in effect for several months. In 2026, it continues until Sunday, November 1. On that day, clocks will be set back one hour at 2 a.m., returning to standard time and giving people an extra hour of sleep.
Daylight Saving Time: Places that do not follow daylight saving time rules
Although daylight saving time covers much of North America, some places do not observe it. Hawaii doesn’t change its hours at all. Most of Arizona also avoids time changes.There is one interesting exception within Arizona. The Navajo Nation, which spans parts of the state, is said to follow daylight saving time. This means that clocks change there while surrounding areas stay in standard time.
Canada mostly follows the same schedule as the United States. However, some areas choose not to participate. Some communities in British Columbia, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan remain on standard time year-round.There have also been discussions in some provinces about ending the biannual clock change entirely. British Columbia has considered switching permanently to daylight saving time, although such a move would likely depend on coordination with neighboring regions.
Daylight saving time starts later in the United Kingdom and most of Europe
Across the Atlantic, the schedule is a little different. The UK and most European countries start daylight saving time later in the month. In 2026, the clocks will move forward on Sunday, March 29. The adjustment is made at 01:00 UTC. For many European countries, this effectively means that clocks jump forward by one hour during the early morning.In the United Kingdom, this shift marks the beginning of British Summer Time.
The country is temporarily moving away from Greenwich Mean Time and adopting a summer schedule until the fall. Clocks will return to standard time on October 25, 2026.Most European countries follow the same pattern, although a few do not participate in the system at all. Iceland, Belarus and Russia are said to keep the same time throughout the year.
Why does daylight saving time still exist?
Daylight saving time was first implemented as a way to make better use of natural daylight during the longer days of spring and summer.
By moving our clocks forward, we make the evenings lighter and the mornings a little darker.One of the main reasons for implementing this system is that more daylight in the evening would promote more social activities. Businesses, such as restaurants, amusement parks, and gyms, can benefit from this. The other reason is that we can save energy. By getting more daylight after work, we can reduce artificial lighting. However, recent research has shown that we are not saving as much as we thought. Our modern use of electricity includes many devices that we did not know about at the time.Despite these concerns, more than 70 countries are said to be using this system.