European Union clocks will shift back one hour on October 25, 2026, continuing a decades-old practice aimed at saving energy.
Clocks move back in EU
On the night of Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, October 25, 2026, clocks across the European Union will be set back by one hour, marking the annual transition to winter time.Time shift details
At 3 a.m., the time will effectively be 2 a.m. This adjustment redistributes daylight between morning and evening rather than reducing the total amount of daylight.History of the practice
The practice was introduced with the aim of energy savings, and has been in place since the 1973-1974 oil crisis. The change is scheduled to occur on the last Sunday in October, a rule harmonized across the European Union since 1998.Impact on daylight
In Paris, for example, the sunset occurs at 6:44 p.m. on October 24 and then at 5:42 p.m. on October 25, creating the illusion of a one-hour loss of daylight. However, the actual duration of the day decreases only slightly.Abolition attempt delayed
The time change was originally intended to be abolished following a European vote in 2019, which aimed to end the practice by 2021. However, the proposal was postponed, partly due to the health crisis linked to the coronavirus.Continued debate
Despite the ongoing debate about its benefits and drawbacks, the time change remains in effect, with the adjustment occurring every year on the last Sunday in October. The real impact, if any, is more related to societal habits and calendar landmarks rather than the actual movement of the sun.
