When Do the Clocks Change in the European Union?
Clocks go back on Sunday, October 25, 2026. At 1:59 AM the clocks jump to 1:00 AM, putting the country on WET.
What Happens, and When
The whole EU changes its clocks at the same moment — 1:00 am UTC on the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October — so the bloc stays internally aligned. Local clock time therefore reads 2:00 am in Lisbon, 3:00 am in Paris and 4:00 am in Athens at the instant of the change.
| Zone | Next change | Clocks |
|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | Oct 25, 2026 | 1:59 AM → 1:00 AM (back) |
| Paris | Oct 25, 2026 | 2:59 AM → 2:00 AM (back) |
| Athens | Oct 25, 2026 | 3:59 AM → 3:00 AM (back) |
Which Time Differences Move on Oct 25, 2026
A clock change is only interesting because of what it does to the gap between you and everyone else. These are the differences from the European Union before and after the change — note that a gap only moves if the other side does not change on the same date.
| Difference to | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| New York | -5:00 | -4:00 changes |
| London | 0 | 0 — unchanged |
| UTC | -1:00 | 0 changes |
| India | +4:30 | +5:30 changes |
| Tokyo | +8:00 | +9:00 changes |
| Sydney | +10:00 | +11:00 changes |
| Dubai | +3:00 | +4:00 changes |
6 of these 7 differences move on the day. The gap to London stays the same, because those clocks change on the same date — or not at all.
Why the European Union Does Change Its Clocks
The EU synchronized its dates in 1996. In 2018 a Commission consultation drew 4.6 million responses, overwhelmingly in favor of abolition, and Parliament voted in 2019 to end seasonal changes. Member states never agreed on whether to settle on summer or winter time, so the proposal has sat unimplemented ever since.
The practical consequence is that every time difference involving the European Union shifts by an hour on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Anything recurring — a standing call, an automated report, a flight connection — is worth checking across that date, particularly against countries that change on a different day or not at all.
To see the exact gap between any two places on any date, use the time zone converter, or the meeting planner for a whole group at once.
Cities Affected
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the clocks change in the European Union?
The next change is Sunday, October 25, 2026, when clocks go back — 1:59 AM becomes 1:00 AM. That is 13 days from today.
Do the clocks go forward or back?
They go back at the next change. Clocks going forward means an hour of sleep lost and lighter evenings; going back means an hour gained and darker afternoons.
Will my meetings be affected?
Any recurring meeting booked across a clock change needs checking, because the two ends move at different times — or one end does not move at all. The time zone converter shows the exact gap for any pair on any date.