Europe prepares for winter time transition on October 25, 2026

European countries, including Greece, Germany, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, are preparing for the transition from summer time to winter time on Sunday, October 25, 2026. At 03:00 or 04:00, depending on the specific local regulation, clocks will be set back one hour to 02:00 or 03:00, providing an extra hour of sleep.

The seasonal change is regulated by European Union directives to ensure seamless trade and transport across the single market. While most modern electronic devices like smartphones and computers will update automatically, manual adjustment is required for analog clocks and older vehicles.

The practice aims to optimize natural daylight and save energy, a measure historically linked to energy crises. However, the transition remains a subject of debate. While the European Commission and Parliament have previously discussed abolishing seasonal changes, member states have not reached a consensus on whether to permanently adopt summer or winter time. Some health experts warn that the disruption to biological rhythms can cause sleep issues and fatigue, while others suggest that permanent summer time could delay morning sunlight too significantly during winter months.