The short answer
| Region | Clocks go back (autumn 2026) | Clocks go forward (spring 2027) |
|---|---|---|
| UK and Ireland | Sunday 25 October 2026, 2am → 1am | Sunday 28 March 2027, 1am → 2am |
| European Union | Sunday 25 October 2026, at the same moment (01:00 UTC) | Sunday 28 March 2027 |
| United States and Canada (most areas) | Sunday 1 November 2026, 2am → 1am local time | Sunday 14 March 2027 |
In autumn you gain an hour: an extra hour in bed, lighter mornings and darker evenings.
The rules behind the dates
- UK and EU: clocks go forward on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October. The change happens at 01:00 UTC everywhere in the EU, so all countries switch at the same moment.
- US and Canada: clocks go forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November, at 2am local time.
- UK time names: in summer the UK uses British Summer Time (BST, GMT+1); in winter it returns to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Who does not change their clocks
- Most of Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, China and Japan.
- Most of Africa and South America, and countries near the equator.
- In the US: most of Arizona and Hawaii, plus Puerto Rico and other territories.
- In the southern hemisphere, places that use daylight saving, such as parts of Australia and New Zealand, change at the opposite time of year.
The week when time differences shift
Because Europe changes a week before North America, time differences between them are unusual from 25 October to 1 November 2026:
| Between | Usual difference | 25 Oct to 1 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| London and New York | 5 hours | 4 hours |
| London and Los Angeles | 8 hours | 7 hours |
| Paris and New York | 6 hours | 5 hours |
Meetings set up in one time zone can appear at the wrong time for people in another during this week. Double-check calendar invites. Our guide to planning meetings across time zones has more tips.
What changes for Singapore and Asia
Since Singapore does not change its clocks, its gap with Europe and the US grows by an hour in their winter:
| Singapore to | Summer difference | Winter difference |
|---|---|---|
| London | 7 hours ahead | 8 hours ahead (from 25 Oct 2026) |
| Paris, Berlin | 6 hours ahead | 7 hours ahead (from 25 Oct 2026) |
| New York | 12 hours ahead | 13 hours ahead (from 1 Nov 2026) |
| Los Angeles | 15 hours ahead | 16 hours ahead (from 1 Nov 2026) |
The same applies to Pakistan, India and other countries without daylight saving: their gap with London and New York grows by one hour.
What to change by hand
Phones, computers and most smartwatches update themselves. Check:
- Oven and microwave clocks.
- Car dashboard clocks.
- Older alarm clocks and wall clocks.
- Central heating and hot water timers.
- Security cameras and some smart home devices.
Smoke alarm battery checks are often suggested at the same time, as a twice-yearly reminder.
Sleep and the clock change
The autumn change is usually easier than the spring one, because you gain an hour. Still, the shift can unsettle sleep for a few days, especially for babies and young children. Shifting bedtime by 10 to 15 minutes a day for a few days beforehand helps. Morning daylight also helps your body clock adjust, the same principle that helps with jet lag.
Will the clock changes end?
- United States: the House passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, in July 2026. It still needs Senate approval and the president's signature. Until it becomes law, clocks keep changing.
- European Union: the European Parliament voted in 2019 to end seasonal clock changes, but member states have not agreed how to do it, so the proposal has stalled.
- UK: there are no current government plans to stop changing the clocks.
Key takeaways
- UK and Europe: clocks go back on Sunday 25 October 2026. US: Sunday 1 November 2026.
- You gain an hour in autumn.
- Between 25 October and 1 November, the US–Europe gap is one hour shorter.
- Singapore and most of Asia do not change, so their gap with Europe and the US grows by an hour.