Daylight Saving Time 2026: Exact Date, How to Prepare, and Sleep Tips

As winter winds down, Americans are already searching for the exact moment they must “spring forward.” Daylight Saving Time 2026 begins at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, March 8, when clocks move ahead one hour nationwide, kicking off eight months of extended evening daylight. What time does the change happen? • At 1:59:59 a.m. your local standard time, the next second becomes 3:00:00 a.m. • Mobile phones and most smart devices update automatically; analog clocks need manual adjustment. Key dates to remember • Start: Sunday, March 8 — “spring forward” one hour. • End: Sunday, November 1 — “fall back” to Standard Time, gaining an extra hour of sleep. Why March 8 feels early The Uniform Time Act locks the switch to the second Sunday in March. In 2026 that lands just nine weeks after New Year’s Day, making the time change feel sooner than in years when the second Sunday falls closer to mid-month. Who does NOT change clocks • Hawaii and most of Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) stay on Standard Time year-round. • U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also skip the shift. Could Daylight Saving Time become permanent? The bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, reintroduced in Congress, would keep the nation on Daylight Saving Time all year, eliminating the biannual clock change. Although the bill passed the Senate once, it has not cleared the House, so the 2026 “spring forward” is still required. Health and safety tips for the March shift 1. Go to bed 15 minutes earlier each night during the week leading up to the change to ease the lost hour. 2. Change smoke-alarm batteries when you change your clocks. 3. Expect darker morning commutes the first few weeks; pedestrians and cyclists should wear high-visibility gear. 4. Drivers: studies show a spike in crashes the Monday after the switch; stay alert. Energy impact Extended evening daylight historically trims residential lighting demand, yet modern studies show mixed results as HVAC and electronics offset the savings. Still, later sunsets boost foot traffic for retailers and outdoor venues. SEO quick answers • “When does Daylight Saving Time start in 2026?” — Sunday, March 8 at 2 a.m. • “When do we change the clocks back in 2026?” — Sunday, November 1. • “States without Daylight Saving Time” — Hawaii, most of Arizona, U.S. territories. Mark your calendar now so the March 8 time change doesn’t steal more than an hour of your Sunday.