On Sunday, March 29, 2026, Daylight Saving Time (DST) began in the United States, Canada, and most of Europe. At 2:00 a.m. local time, clocks were set forward by one hour to 3:00 a.m., resulting in later sunsets but the loss of an hour of sleep. This annual shift, often called "spring forward," is designed to make better use of daylight during the evening hours.
The time change is not universal. Many countries, including most of Asia and Africa, do not observe DST. In the European Union, the practice continues despite a 2019 proposal to end it, as member states have not agreed on a permanent time. In the United States, the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make DST permanent, has been introduced in Congress but has not become law.
For travelers and international communicators, the shift can create temporary confusion across time zones. Devices connected to the internet typically update automatically, but manual clocks, appliances, and some older systems require a manual change. The next scheduled change for regions observing DST will be on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when clocks will "fall back" to standard time.
