When to Spring Forward: Daylight Saving Time Returns in 2026

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Daylight Saving Time will return to the nation on March 8, 2026, the second Sunday in March. Clocks will be set forward one hour, leading to sunrise and sunset coming an hour later in Oklahoma City. Most digital clocks will change automatically, but manual adjustments may be needed for some devices. While the sun will rise earlier, the time jump also means the sun will set later, as the days start to get longer in both ends of the day.

Why it matters

The annual clock change allows daylight hours to stay coordinated with the time most people are active outside, which is intended to save energy during the warmer months. However, there is ongoing debate about making daylight saving time the new permanent standard time for the U.S.

The details

In Oklahoma City, the last 7 a.m. sunrise before the time change will be on February 28. Over the next week, the sun will rise just before 7 a.m., with the March 7 sunrise coming at 6:51 a.m. After the time jump, sunrise over the capital city will remain after 7 a.m. until mid-April.

• Daylight Saving Time will begin at 2 a.m. on March 8, 2026, the second Sunday in March.
• Daylight Saving Time ended on November 2, 2025, the first Sunday in November.
• The vernal equinox, marking the first day of spring, is at 9:46 a.m. CDT on March 20, 2026.