Overview
- The clocks will be set back from 3:00 to 2:00 on the night of Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, October 25, 2026, repeating the hour between 2 and 3 a.m.
- Many devices update automatically and rail operators treat the change as routine, but travelers should note that timetables account for the repeated hour and some overnight services may pause.
- Health experts say the shift commonly causes a short 'mini-jetlag' that most people adjust to in one to seven days and recommend gradual bed- and wake-time shifts, morning daylight and stable sleep routines rather than sleeping pills.
- The original reason for the twice-yearly change was energy savings after the 1970s oil crises, but government analysis such as a 2005 federal study found little net electricity benefit because lower evening lighting is offset by higher morning heating.
- A 2018 EU consultation and a 2019 European Parliament vote showed strong public support for ending the practice, yet the reform stalled because member states must agree on a permanent time standard before abolition can proceed.