European Union to maintain seasonal time changes in 2026

The transition from summer to winter time will continue in 2026, as the European Union has yet to reach an agreement on abolishing seasonal clock changes. The shift to winter time is scheduled to occur on the night of Saturday, October 24, to Sunday, October 25, 2026, when clocks will be set back one hour at 3:00 a.m.

While most modern digital devices will update automatically, manual adjustments will be required for analog clocks, older household appliances, and vehicle clocks.

The persistence of this practice is attributed to political deadlock within the EU. Although the European Parliament voted in favor of ending seasonal time changes in 2019—supported by a 2018 European Commission survey where 84 percent of respondents favored abolition—the proposal stalled in the Council of the European Union. Member states have struggled to reach a consensus on whether to permanently adopt summer or winter time, citing concerns over potential economic and transport disruptions if neighboring countries choose different standards.