Daylight saving ends in Australia: When clocks go back in April 2026

Millions of Australians will get an extra hour of sleep tomorrow morning as daylight saving time ends and clocks fall back by one hour.

All but three states and territories will wind their clocks back by an hour, earning a little sleep- in the process. It is pertinent to note that daylight saving will finish tomorrow on Sunday, 5 April. Clocks will move back one hour to 2:00 am, moving away from the afternoon sun and replacing it with cold darkness. As it standard, clocks move back one hour on the first Sunday of April. Smart devices commonly update automatically at 2:00 am, while manual clocks must be adjusted by hand.

The change applies to NSW, VIC, TAS, and the ACT. The nonparticipating regions-including Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory-do not observe daylight saving and will not change their clocks. If you are working a shift during the change, you may work an extra hour.

Payment commonly follows the “by the clock” rule unless your specific award or agreement states otherwise. To minimize sleep disruption, experts recommend gradually shifting your bedtime by 15 minutes a night. Additionally, maximizing exposure to morning light is helpful for resetting your internal clock. 

It is significant to note that maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is vital to avoiding disruption. Daylight saving will return in six months on Sunday, October 4, 2026, when clocks move forward again.