When is daylight savings 2026? Clocks change sunday as debate grows over ending time shifts

Clocks across most of the United States will move forward one hour at 2:00AM on Sunday as daylight saving time begins in 2026.

The time change will create a 23-hour day and can disrupt sleep schedules for many people. It also means darker early mornings while evenings will have more daylight.

Despite years of debate, the system of changing clocks twice a year remains in place. Polls show many Americans dislike the current system, but lawmakers remain divided over how to fix it.

Some policymakers support making daylight saving time permanent. Others argue the country should stay on standard time year round.

According to a report by Associated Press, Jay Pea, president of the advocacy group Save Standard Time, says neither option is perfect.

“There’s no law we can pass to move the sun to our will,” Pea told the news agency.

The debate often centers on how daylight would shift throughout the year. Permanent daylight saving time would mean winter sunrises close to 9:00AM in some cities such as Detroit.

Staying on standard time would bring very early summer sunrises, including around 4:11 AM in Seattle.

Congress would need to approve a national law to make daylight saving time permanent. A Senate bill passed in 2022 but has not yet been approved by the House.