Daylight Saving Time 2026: What to Know

It’s almost that time of year again.

In just a few days, the sun will appear to rise later in the morning and set later in the evening across most of the United States, thanks to the long-standing — and controversial — practice known as daylight saving time.

The practice of changing clocks twice a year is unpopular, questionable for achieving its intended goals, and criticized by many experts for its health effects. While the majority of the United States continues to move forward and backward an hour each year, some U.S. lawmakers have proposed making daylight saving time permanent. Most other countries do not observe this practice, including several that have chosen to end it over the past decade.

Learn more: The dark side of daylight saving time

Here’s everything you need to know about Daylight Saving Time this year.

When does the clock move forward in March 2026?

For states that observe it, Daylight Saving Time begins each year on the second Sunday in March. In 2026, it will be March 8, which means that at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, the clocks will move forward one hour, until 3 a.m.

Learn more: The United States has already tried permanent daylight saving time. Here’s what happened

How does summer time work?

During daylight saving time, clocks move forward one hour each March, shifting the times when daylight appears.

This clock change lasts for more than six months, until Daylight Saving Time ends in November. After this point, the sun appears to rise earlier in the morning and set again earlier in the evening, until the following March, when daylight saving time begins again.

Learn more: Daylight saving time no longer makes sense

Why do we have daylight saving time?

Daylight saving time aims to better align daylight hours with the times when people are most active during the part of the year when the weather is typically warmer.

Initially, the practice was established in the United States as an energy conservation effort during World War I, although there are conflicting reports on whether observing DST actually helps save energy.

Learn more: The Real Reason Daylight Saving Time is a Thing

How Does Daylight Saving Time Affect Your Health?

Many experts have criticized DST, saying the practice impacts sleep and overall health. Experts previously told TIME that changing the clock twice a year disrupts people’s sleep and circadian rhythms, which is associated with broader negative impacts on their health. Some studies, for example, have linked daylight saving time to an increased risk of stroke. This has also been associated with a higher risk of road accidents.