Europe transitions to winter time on October 25, 2026

Across several European countries, including Poland, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Germany, clocks will be set back one hour on the night of Saturday, October 24, to Sunday, October 25, 2026, marking the transition from summer time to winter time. This change provides an extra hour of sleep but results in earlier sunsets and darker afternoons.

In Poland, the shift may impact night-shift workers, as the extra hour can be classified as overtime requiring specific compensation. In Germany, discussions continue regarding the potential abolition of seasonal time changes, though the European Commission has released schedules for transitions through 2031. Experts note that maintaining permanent summer time would lead to extremely late sunrises in winter, potentially affecting commuters and schoolchildren.

While digital devices typically update automatically, analog clocks and certain household appliances require manual adjustment. The transition remains a subject of debate within the European Union, with ongoing discussions about whether the practice effectively saves energy or disrupts natural biological rhythms.