When Do We Move the Clocks Forward? You Might Be Surprised

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It is almost time for the annual ritual that makes people question their own intelligence, even though we have been doing it forever. Daylight Saving Time is back, and yes, we are moving the clocks forward. This year, we 'spring forward' on Sunday, March 8, 2026. At 2:00 a.m., the clock jumps ahead to 3:00 a.m., which means we lose an hour of sleep, and gain longer light in the evening.

Why it matters

While losing sleep isn't fun, it brings a brighter end to chilly winter days. Daylight Saving Time was meant to shift daylight to later in the day, when people are more likely to be awake and doing things.

The details

Phones, computers, tablets, smart TVs, and a lot of newer cars update automatically. Still, wall clocks, appliance clocks, and some car dashboards need the manual treatment, and that is usually when someone in the house announces, 'I did the one in the kitchen,' while the oven remains completely wrong until Thanksgiving. Benjamin Franklin is often credited with proposing the idea back in the 1700s, though the modern version of DST came later, including widespread use during World War I as countries looked to conserve resources. In the United States, the rules were eventually standardized by federal law, after years of confusion from place to place. The current schedule has DST beginning on the second Sunday in March and ending on the first Sunday in November.

• At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026, the clock jumps ahead to 3:00 a.m.