Texas Prepares for Daylight Saving Time Shift in 2026

Clocks to move forward in March, back in November across the Lone Star State

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Texas will continue its practice of observing Daylight Saving Time (DST) in 2026, requiring clocks to be adjusted forward one hour on March 8th and back one hour on November 1st. This time change impacts major metropolitan areas like Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and El Paso, where coordinated schedules are crucial for work, school, transportation, and logistics.

Why it matters

While some states have questioned the usefulness of DST, Texas maintains the practice to align with federal standards. This coordination facilitates logistics, commerce, and transportation across state lines, though the health and productivity impacts of DST remain a topic of debate.

The details

On March 8th, 2026, clocks in Texas should be moved forward one hour at 2:00 a.m. local time. On November 1st, 2026, clocks should be set back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local time. Authorities recommend making the changes before going to bed on the preceding Saturday to minimize disruption. This schedule applies to both the Central and Mountain Time zones in Texas.

  • On March 8, 2026, clocks should be moved forward one hour at 2:00 a.m. local time.
  • On November 1, 2026, clocks should be set back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local time.

The players

Texas Authorities

Local authorities acknowledge the debate surrounding DST's usefulness, but in 2026, they will continue the practice of advancing clocks in March and resetting them in November, following the federal pattern.

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What’s next

The possibility of a permanent change to the DST schedule remains a public discussion in Texas.

The takeaway

While the health and productivity impacts of DST are debated, Texas will maintain the federal schedule in 2026 to support synchronized logistics, commerce, and transportation across the state and with other states.