France to transition to winter time on October 25, 2026

France will transition to winter time during the night of Saturday, October 24, to Sunday, October 25, 2026. At 3:00 AM, clocks will be set back one hour to 2:00 AM, providing an extra hour of sleep.

This specific date is the earliest possible occurrence for the transition in 2026, a configuration that has not happened since 2020 and is not expected again until 2037. While most digital devices such as smartphones, computers, and tablets update automatically, manual adjustments may be required for items like ovens, microwaves, car clocks, traditional watches, and programmable thermostats.

The shift to winter time marks a return to standard time, which is closer to the sun, though it results in earlier sunset times in the late afternoon.