Daylight Saving Time 2026 Begins in Cleveland

See how sunrise and sunset times will shift as clocks 'spring forward' on March 8.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Daylight saving time will begin at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. Clocks will move forward one hour, pushing both sunrise and sunset later by the clock. This will extend evening daylight but make mornings darker. The sunset in Cleveland will shift from 6:24 p.m. on Saturday to 7:25 p.m. on Sunday, the first 8 p.m. sunset coming on April 9.

Why it matters

The biannual clock changes can disrupt sleep schedules and daily routines, with research linking them to short-term increases in mood disturbances, hospital visits, and even car crashes. However, supporters argue the time change provides more usable daylight during evening hours in the warmer months.

The details

In Cleveland, the sunrise on Saturday, March 7 will be at 6:51 a.m. and the sunset at 6:24 p.m. On Sunday, March 8, after the clocks spring forward, the sunrise will be at 7:49 a.m. and the sunset at 7:25 p.m. This means Cleveland will immediately see daylight past 7 p.m., something that would not happen until later in March under standard time. Daylight will continue increasing as spring approaches, with the first 8 p.m. sunset in Cleveland occurring on April 9.

  • On Saturday, March 7, sunrise is at 6:51 a.m. and sunset is at 6:24 p.m.
  • On Sunday, March 8, after clocks spring forward, sunrise is at 7:49 a.m. and sunset is at 7:25 p.m.
  • The first 8 p.m. sunset in Cleveland will occur on April 9.

The players

Congress

Has periodically considered proposals to eliminate the twice-yearly clock changes, including efforts to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, but no measure has been enacted.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Has long supported permanent standard time, arguing that morning light better aligns with the body's natural circadian rhythms.

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Has reported that the shift can disrupt sleep patterns for hundreds of millions of people.

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What’s next

Congress has periodically considered proposals to eliminate the twice-yearly clock changes, including efforts to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, but no measure has been enacted.

The takeaway

The biannual clock changes associated with daylight saving time can disrupt sleep patterns and daily routines, but supporters argue the time change provides more usable daylight during evening hours in the warmer months. As Cleveland residents prepare to 'spring forward' in 2026, the debate over the merits of daylight saving time continues.