European Union scheduled for winter time transition in October 2026

European Union member states are scheduled to transition from daylight saving time to standard winter time on the night of Sunday, October 25, 2026. During this transition, clocks will be set back by one hour, typically moving from 3:00 or 4:00 to 2:00 or 3:00, providing an extra hour of sleep.

While most modern digital devices like smartphones and computers will update automatically, manual adjustments may be required for analog clocks, older vehicles, and certain household appliances. The seasonal change results in earlier sunsets but also earlier sunrises.

The practice of seasonal time changes remains a subject of ongoing debate within the European Union. Although the European Parliament previously supported a proposal to abolish the seasonal switch, member states have not yet reached a consensus on whether to permanently adopt either summer or standard time. Consequently, the current system of biannual adjustments remains in effect.