Germany Returns to Winter Time on Oct. 24–25, 2026

Overview

• The clocks will be set back from 3:00 to 2:00 in the night of Oct. 24–25, 2026, giving people one extra hour overnight and marking the formal switch from summer time (MESZ) to winter time (MEZ).
• Most modern phones and internet‑connected devices will update automatically but analog wall watches, older alarm clocks and some household timers must be set by hand to avoid errors the next morning.
• Rail and urban transit operators treat the change as routine yet passengers should check schedules because Deutsche Bahn says night trains stop during the rollback and some spring arrivals can be shifted by an hour while S‑Bahn services often run through; local carriers such as KVB publish adjusted night timetables.
• Sleep specialists note about a third of people report short‑term physical or mental symptoms after the switch and advise gradual bedtime shifts of 10–15 minutes, daylight exposure and relaxation techniques while recommending against sleeping pills.
• The seasonal change remains in force because EU member states never agreed on a permanent time after the European Parliament voted to end the practice in 2019, so a coordinated decision will be required to abolish future clock switches.