Daylight Saving Time in the United States is scheduled to end on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 AM local daylight time in places that observe it. At that moment, clocks move backward by one hour:
2:00 AM → 1:00 AM
This is the familiar “fall back” clock change. NIST confirms that the 2026 U.S. Daylight Saving Time period runs from March 8 at 2:00 AM local time until November 1 at 2:00 AM local time.
Under current U.S. law, DST ends on the first Sunday in November in participating jurisdictions. (Department of Transportation)
So the key date is:
Sunday, November 1, 2026
However, there is an important current legislative development. The U.S. House passed H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act, on July 14, 2026. The bill would make daylight time permanent and eliminate the normal November clock change if it becomes law. As of August 19, 2026, official Senate sources still describe the measure as awaiting Senate consideration, so November 1 remains the scheduled 2026 fall-back date under current law. (House Committee on Energy and Commerce)
For a specific city or future international conversion, use the CurrentDateTime Time Zone Converter.
Daylight Saving Time End 2026 at a Glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When does DST end in the U.S.? | Sunday, November 1, 2026 |
| What time? | 2:00 AM local daylight time |
| Which way do clocks move? | Back one hour |
| What does 2:00 AM become? | 1:00 AM standard time |
| Do we gain an hour? | One local clock hour repeats |
| What happens next? | Standard time returns |
| Does every U.S. location change? | No |
| UK clocks go back | October 25, 2026 |
| Is the U.S. law guaranteed to stay unchanged? | Current law still applies, but federal legislation is pending |
T_{\text{standard}} = T_{\text{daylight}} - 01:00 \quad \left(02:00\text{ EDT} \longrightarrow 01:00\text{ EST}\right)
\Delta T_{\text{calendar day}} = 24\text{ hours} + 1\text{ hour} = 25\text{ elapsed hours}
t \in [01:00:00, 02:00:00) \implies \text{Requires explicit fold/offset identifier (e.g. EDT vs. EST)}
What Happens When Daylight Saving Time Ends?
When DST ends, participating locations move their clocks back by one hour and return to standard time.
The transition looks like this:
1:58 AM daylight time
1:59 AM daylight time
then eventually:
1:00 AM standard time
The local 1 AM hour happens twice.
The U.S. Naval Observatory describes the current rule the same way: on the first Sunday in November, clocks are set back one hour at 2:00 AM local daylight time, which becomes 1:00 AM local standard time.
Why Do We “Fall Back”?
“Fall back” is the memory phrase for the autumn DST transition.
In spring: clocks move forward.
In fall: clocks move backward.
So: spring forward, fall back.
The November change ends the seasonal daylight-time period and restores the region's standard UTC offset.
Do We Gain an Hour on November 1, 2026?
In terms of local clock time, yes.
Because the 1 AM hour happens twice, the night contains one additional elapsed hour compared with an ordinary 24-hour local day.
For example, if you go to bed at 11:00 PM and wake when your clock says 7:00 AM, nine actual hours can pass across the fall-back transition even though those clock readings would normally represent eight hours.
You are not gaining an extra hour of life. The local civil clock simply repeats an hour.
Why Does 1:30 AM Happen Twice?
Consider New York.
Before the transition, the first 1:30 AM occurs during: EDT = UTC-04:00
After clocks fall back, another 1:30 AM occurs during: EST = UTC-05:00
So these can both exist on November 1:
1:30 AM EDT- and
1:30 AM EST
They look identical if you write only the clock time, but they represent two different moments.
This repeated-hour problem is important for calendars, server logs, financial records, travel systems, and scheduled software jobs.
When Exactly Does DST End in New York?
New York follows the federal DST schedule.
On November 1, 2026: 2:00 AM EDT becomes 1:00 AM EST
The offset changes from UTC-04:00 to UTC-05:00.
So New York becomes one hour farther behind UTC.
For current city-specific time and offset information, browse the CurrentDateTime World Clock.
What Happens to Eastern Time?
Eastern Time changes from Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-04:00) to Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-05:00).
A common mistake is saying: EDT changes into UTC-5.
A clearer way to describe it is: the location switches from EDT to EST.
EDT itself remains UTC-04:00. EST remains UTC-05:00.
What Happens to Central Time?
Participating Central Time locations change from CDT = UTC-05:00 to CST = UTC-06:00.
For example, Chicago moves one hour farther behind UTC.
A 9:00 AM Chicago meeting that remains fixed to local Chicago time therefore corresponds to a different UTC instant after November 1.
What Happens to Mountain Time?
Participating Mountain Time locations change from MDT = UTC-06:00 to MST = UTC-07:00.
But this zone has an important exception.
Most of Arizona does not observe DST and therefore does not make the normal November clock change. The U.S. Department of Transportation confirms that most of Arizona is exempt. (Department of Transportation)
What Happens to Pacific Time?
Locations such as Los Angeles change from PDT = UTC-07:00 to PST = UTC-08:00.
So 9:00 AM Los Angeles corresponds to one UTC instant before November 1 and another afterward.
This is one reason international meeting times often move for participants outside North America.
Which U.S. Areas Do Not Fall Back?
Under the current Uniform Time Act framework, DST is not observed in:
- Hawaii
- most of Arizona
- American Samoa
- Guam
- the Northern Mariana Islands
- Puerto Rico
- the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Department of Transportation)
People in those jurisdictions do not make the normal November 1 clock adjustment under current rules.
Does Arizona Change Clocks on November 1, 2026?
Most of Arizona does not.
Phoenix generally remains at UTC-07:00 year-round.
This produces an interesting seasonal relationship.
During U.S. daylight time: Phoenix and Los Angeles can both be UTC-07:00.
After California falls back: Phoenix remains UTC-07:00 while Los Angeles becomes UTC-08:00.
So Phoenix becomes one hour ahead of Los Angeles without Phoenix changing its own clock.
Does Hawaii Fall Back?
No. Hawaii does not observe DST under current federal rules. (Department of Transportation)
Its clock remains unchanged when participating mainland locations fall back.
As a result, Hawaii's time difference from cities such as New York or Los Angeles changes seasonally.
Why Does Sunset Suddenly Look Earlier?
When clocks fall back, daylight is shifted toward earlier clock hours.
Suppose sunset was around 6:00 PM daylight time. Shortly after the clock change, a similar solar event may appear around 5:00 PM standard time.
The Sun did not suddenly begin setting one physical hour earlier because of the law. The clock label changed.
Seasonal daylight is also naturally decreasing during autumn, which makes the earlier evening darkness feel even more noticeable.
Does Sunrise Become Earlier Too?
Yes, by the clock.
If sunrise had been 7:30 AM daylight time, the standard-time clock may place a similar solar moment around 6:30 AM after the transition.
So fall back shifts both sunrise earlier by the clock and sunset earlier by the clock.
The amount of sunlight itself is controlled by astronomy, not by the clock change.
Is November 1, 2026 a 25-Hour Day?
In a participating U.S. timezone, the local midnight-to-midnight interval contains 25 elapsed hours because one hour repeats.
An ordinary day usually contains 24 elapsed hours.
The spring-forward transition creates the opposite case, where the local day contains 23 elapsed hours.
This distinction matters in software because one calendar day is not always equivalent to 24 elapsed hours in a timezone that observes DST.
Does UTC Fall Back?
No. UTC remains continuous. Only the local offset changes.
For example:
Before the transition: New York = UTC-04:00
After: New York = UTC-05:00
UTC itself never moves backward. That is why technical systems often store global event times in UTC and convert them into local time for display.
For timestamp conversions, use the CurrentDateTime Unix Timestamp Converter.
Why the Repeated Hour Matters for Developers
Consider this timestamp: 2026-11-01 01:30 in New York.
That is incomplete. It could mean the first 1:30 AM during EDT or the second 1:30 AM during EST.
A safer representation includes an explicit offset, UTC, or America/New_York with enough information to resolve the repeated hour.
A timezone-aware application must handle this transition rather than assuming every local clock time maps to one unique instant.
What Happens to Recurring Meetings?
Suppose you have: 9:00 AM New York every Monday
A timezone-aware calendar should keep the meeting at 9:00 AM New York after November 1.
But its UTC time changes.
Before fall back: 9:00 AM EDT = 13:00 UTC
After fall back: 9:00 AM EST = 14:00 UTC
That means participants in countries that do not change clocks can see their meeting move by one hour.
Example: New York and India
India remains UTC+05:30 year-round under its current system.
Before New York falls back (EDT, UTC-04:00): India is 9 hours 30 minutes ahead.
After New York falls back (EST, UTC-05:00): India is 10 hours 30 minutes ahead.
So 9:00 AM New York changes from 6:30 PM India to 7:30 PM India. India's clocks did not change. New York's did.
Example: New York and Pakistan
Pakistan uses UTC+05:00 under current rules.
During EDT: Pakistan is 9 hours ahead of New York.
During EST: Pakistan is 10 hours ahead.
So a recurring 9:00 AM New York meeting changes from 6:00 PM Pakistan to 7:00 PM Pakistan after the November transition.
Example: Los Angeles and India
Before fall back: Los Angeles = PDT, UTC-07:00; India = UTC+05:30. Difference: 12 hours 30 minutes.
After fall back: Los Angeles = PST, UTC-08:00. Difference: 13 hours 30 minutes.
So 8:00 AM Los Angeles can change from 8:30 PM India to 9:30 PM India, even though India's own clock stays fixed.
When Does the UK Fall Back in 2026?
The UK does not wait until November 1.
GOV.UK lists the 2026 autumn clock change as: Sunday, October 25, 2026.
At the UK transition: 2:00 AM BST becomes 1:00 AM GMT. (nidirect)
So the UK returns to standard time one week before the United States in 2026.
U.S. vs UK Fall Back Dates in 2026
| Location | Clocks Go Back |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | October 25, 2026 |
| United States, participating areas | November 1, 2026 |
That one-week mismatch changes normal international time differences.
Why New York and London Temporarily Change From 5 Hours to 4
Before October 25: London = BST (UTC+01:00), New York = EDT (UTC-04:00). Difference: 5 hours.
After the UK falls back on October 25: London = GMT (UTC+00:00), New York remains EDT (UTC-04:00). Difference: 4 hours.
After New York falls back on November 1: London = GMT (UTC+00:00), New York = EST (UTC-05:00). Difference returns to: 5 hours.
This is exactly why memorizing one permanent city-to-city time difference is risky.
Do European Countries Also Change on October 25?
Under the current European seasonal-time framework, EU member states return to standard time on the last Sunday in October.
In 2026, that falls on October 25 for the coordinated European change.
The key scheduling lesson is the same: Europe and the U.S. do not always change clocks on the same date.
Will Daylight Saving Time Definitely End on November 1, 2026?
November 1 is still the scheduled date under the law currently in effect, but there is active federal legislation that could change the situation.
On July 14, 2026, the U.S. House passed H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act, by a 308 to 117 vote. The House Energy and Commerce Committee states that the bill would make daylight time permanent. (House Committee on Energy and Commerce)
Official Senate reporting in July described the bill as awaiting Senate consideration. (Capito Senate Office)
President Trump also urged the Senate in late July to approve the measure. (Reuters)
Therefore, as of August 19, 2026: November 1 remains the legal scheduled fall-back date.
But this article should be rechecked before publication updates close to November because the legislative process is still active.
What Would Happen if Permanent DST Became Law Before November?
If legislation eliminating the seasonal switch took effect before the scheduled transition, participating areas would no longer return to standard time in the usual way.
For example, New York could remain at the daylight-time relationship instead of moving from UTC-04:00 back to UTC-05:00.
However, the exact implementation would depend on the final enacted law and its effective-date provisions.
Do not update future timezone calculations based only on a bill passing one chamber of Congress. Until a law is enacted and takes effect, use the existing rules.
Has the Sunshine Protection Act Become Law?
As of August 19, 2026, the official sources reviewed do not show H.R. 139 as enacted law.
The House has passed it, while Senate consideration remains necessary. (House Committee on Energy and Commerce)
That is why the correct wording is: DST is scheduled to end November 1, 2026 under current law.
Not: DST definitely will end November 1 regardless of future legislation.
What Should You Do With Your Clocks?
For manual clocks in a U.S. location that observes DST: move them back one hour before going to bed on Saturday, October 31, 2026, or adjust them after the official transition Sunday morning.
Examples: 10:00 PM → 9:00 PM, 7:00 AM → 6:00 AM.
Modern smartphones and computers usually update automatically if automatic date, time, and timezone settings are enabled.
Wall clocks, watches, ovens, microwaves, and some vehicle clocks may still require manual adjustment.
What About Alarms During the Repeated Hour?
An alarm set for 1:30 AM on November 1 deserves special attention.
Because 1:30 AM can happen twice in a DST-observing timezone, different devices or applications may handle the alarm differently.
If the alarm is important, consider setting it outside the repeated hour or confirming exactly how the device handles the fall-back transition.
What About Flights?
Airline schedules normally display departure and arrival times using the local time at each airport.
Flights occurring around the DST transition can therefore look unusual. A late-night journey might cross both a timezone boundary and the fall-back transition.
The underlying elapsed flight time remains normal. For international travel, use the actual travel date and airport locations instead of applying a memorized offset.
01:00-02:00 interval using UTC timestamps to prevent duplicate job executions.
Common 2026 DST End Mistakes
| Mistake | Accurate Understanding |
|---|---|
| “DST ends October 25 in the U.S.” | No. October 25 is the UK's 2026 clock-change date. Participating U.S. areas are currently scheduled to change on November 1. |
| “Clocks move forward in November.” | No. They move back one hour. |
| “2:00 AM becomes 3:00 AM.” | That is the spring transition. In fall, 2:00 AM daylight time becomes 1:00 AM standard time. |
| “Every U.S. state falls back.” | No. Hawaii and most of Arizona are among the areas that do not observe DST. (Department of Transportation) |
| “EST is UTC-4 before November.” | No. EST is always UTC-05:00. New York is on EDT, UTC-04:00 during the daylight-time period. |
| “The November 1 date cannot change.” | It is the current legally scheduled date, but pending federal legislation could alter future clock changes if enacted in time. (House Committee on Energy and Commerce) |
Daylight Saving Time End 2026: Direct Answers
In participating U.S. locations, DST is scheduled to end on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 AM local daylight time.
At 2:00 AM local daylight time, clocks move back to 1:00 AM standard time.
Backward by one hour. Remember: fall back.
One local clock hour repeats, so the transition night contains an extra elapsed hour.
In participating U.S. locations, it began on March 8, 2026, at 2:00 AM local time.
Under current law: Starts: March 8, 2026, Ends: November 1, 2026.
Most of Arizona does not observe DST and therefore does not make the normal seasonal change. (Department of Transportation)
No. Hawaii does not currently observe DST. (Department of Transportation)
October 25, 2026.
The House passed legislation in July 2026 that would make daylight time permanent, but official Senate sources still described it as awaiting Senate consideration as of the latest verification. (House Committee on Energy and Commerce)
Yes, based on the law currently in force. Because pending legislation could change the schedule, recheck official guidance closer to November.
The Rule to Remember
The answer to When Does Daylight Saving Time End in 2026? is:
In participating U.S. locations, Daylight Saving Time is scheduled to end on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 AM local daylight time. Clocks move back one hour to 1:00 AM standard time.
NIST confirms the 2026 daylight-saving period ends on November 1 at 2:00 AM local time.
So: November 1, 2026 = fall back
The clock change creates a repeated local hour and returns participating U.S. regions from daylight time to standard time.
The UK changes earlier, on October 25, 2026, which temporarily changes the normal U.S.-UK time difference.
There is also an important current policy caveat. The U.S. House passed the Sunshine Protection Act on July 14, 2026, but as of August 19 the proposal still required Senate action. (House Committee on Energy and Commerce) Therefore, November 1 remains the correct scheduled date under current law, but the page should be reverified if Congress acts before the transition.
For current local times and offsets, browse the CurrentDateTime World Clock. For meetings or travel around the clock-change period, use the CurrentDateTime Time Zone Converter.
The simplest memory rule is:
March = spring forward
November = fall back.
