If you have heard that daylight saving time is ending in 2026, there is an important distinction to understand: the United States is still scheduled to make its normal seasonal clock change in November 2026.

Under current federal rules, daylight saving time ends at 2:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Clocks in most participating areas will move backward one hour, returning to standard time.

Congress is considering legislation that could make daylight saving time permanent. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act, H.R. 139, on July 14, 2026, by a vote of 308–117. The bill was received by the Senate on July 15 and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. As of the latest official action listed, it has not become law.

So, will daylight saving time end permanently in 2026?

Not under current law.

Here is what is actually happening, when the clocks change, and what the proposed legislation could mean for the future.

Is Daylight Saving Time Ending in 2026?

No federal law currently ends daylight saving time in 2026.

Instead, daylight saving time is scheduled to end for the year on November 1, 2026, just as it normally does each fall.

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, daylight saving time in 2026 runs from:

Start: March 8, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. local time
End: November 1, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. local time

At the November transition, clocks move backward by one hour.

That is different from permanently abolishing seasonal clock changes.

Congress is considering a proposal that would change the system, but the legislation has not completed the federal legislative process.

When Does Daylight Saving Time End in 2026?

Daylight saving time ends on:

Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. local time.

At 2:00 a.m., clocks move back to 1:00 a.m.

This is commonly known as “fall back.”

For people using clocks and devices that do not update automatically, the traditional advice is to set clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday night.

Many smartphones, computers, connected watches and other internet-connected devices normally update automatically based on their time-zone settings.

The November change applies to U.S. locations that observe daylight saving time.

Will the Clocks Go Back in November 2026?

Yes, under current federal law.

Most Americans should expect clocks to move backward one hour on November 1, 2026. NIST continues to list that date as the official end of daylight saving time for 2026.

This is one of the most important points because headlines about permanent daylight saving time can create confusion.

The House passing a bill does not by itself change the national clock.

The legislation would need to complete the federal legislative process and be enacted before it could change existing time rules.

Is Daylight Saving Time Becoming Permanent?

It is being considered, but permanent daylight saving time has not yet become federal law.

The current proposal receiving significant attention is the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, H.R. 139.

The House passed the measure on July 14, 2026, with:

308 votes in favor
117 votes against
6 members not voting

The official House Clerk records the measure as passed by the House.

The bill was subsequently received in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on July 15, 2026.

That means permanent DST remains a proposal rather than the current nationwide rule.

What Is the Sunshine Protection Act?

The Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 is legislation intended to make daylight saving time permanent.

H.R. 139 is officially described as:

“An Act To make daylight savings time permanent, and for other purposes.”

The legislation proposes changing federal time law so participating parts of the country would no longer return to standard time each fall.

If enacted and implemented as provided by the legislation, the familiar twice-a-year clock-switching system would change for areas covered by the new rules.

For now, however, existing federal DST rules remain in effect.

Did the Sunshine Protection Act Pass in 2026?

The answer depends on what someone means by “pass.”

The Sunshine Protection Act passed the House of Representatives on July 14, 2026.

It has not completed the full process required to become federal law.

After House passage, H.R. 139 was received in the Senate on July 15, 2026, read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

So statements saying simply that “the Sunshine Protection Act passed” can be misleading without explaining that the July vote was House passage.

Daylight Saving Time 2026 at a Glance

Question	Current Answer
Does DST still exist in 2026?	Yes.
When did DST begin in 2026?	March 8, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. local time.
When does DST end in 2026?	November 1, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. local time.
Do clocks fall back in November 2026?	Yes, under the current federal schedule.
Did the House pass the Sunshine Protection Act?	Yes, 308–117 on July 14, 2026.
Is permanent DST federal law now?	No. The measure was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee on July 15, 2026.

Why Are People Saying Daylight Saving Time Is Ending?

Much of the confusion comes from the difference between ending clock changes and ending daylight saving time itself.

The Sunshine Protection Act proposes permanent daylight saving time.

That would mean DST would effectively remain in place year-round for covered areas rather than ending every November.

In other words, the proposal is not simply about “getting rid of daylight saving time.” It is about eliminating the seasonal switch and making the daylight-saving schedule permanent.

Another possible option would be permanent standard time, but that is a different system.

Permanent Daylight Saving Time vs. Permanent Standard Time

These terms are often confused.

Permanent Daylight Saving Time

Under permanent DST:

Clocks would remain one hour ahead of standard time.
Evening sunset would occur later according to the clock.
Winter sunrise would also occur later according to the clock.
Participating areas would no longer switch back to standard time each fall.

Permanent Standard Time

Under permanent standard time:

The traditional winter clock would remain in place all year.
Morning sunrise would occur earlier according to the clock compared with permanent DST.
Summer sunset would occur earlier according to the clock than under DST.
Seasonal clock changes could still be eliminated, but DST itself would no longer be used.

The Sunshine Protection Act currently under consideration is aimed at permanent daylight saving time, not nationwide permanent standard time.

Does Every U.S. State Observe Daylight Saving Time?

No.

Federal law allows states to exempt themselves from daylight saving time and remain on standard time.

The U.S. Department of Transportation explains that states may choose not to observe DST. However, states that do observe it must follow the federally established start and end dates.

Most of Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, and Hawaii also remains on standard time year-round.

Several U.S. territories likewise do not observe DST.

Because these jurisdictions already operate differently from most of the country, discussions about permanent daylight saving time can affect them differently.

Can States Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent by Themselves?

Not under current federal law.

The Department of Transportation states that states can choose to exempt themselves from DST and remain on standard time, but states currently do not have authority to independently choose permanent daylight saving time.

That distinction explains why federal legislation matters.

A state can generally opt out of DST under the existing system, but moving to year-round DST requires federal authority.

Why Does the United States Change Clocks?

Today’s national DST schedule is governed by federal law.

NIST explains that the current system has daylight saving time begin on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November. These rules have applied under the present schedule since changes enacted through the Energy Policy Act of 2005 took effect in 2007.

When daylight saving time begins in spring, clocks move forward one hour.

When it ends in fall, clocks move backward one hour.

The system shifts how daylight lines up with civil clock time; it does not change the actual amount of sunlight in a day.

Do We Gain an Hour of Sleep in November 2026?

The November time change makes one clock hour repeat.

At 2:00 a.m. on November 1, 2026, clocks return to 1:00 a.m. in participating locations.

As a result, the calendar day contains an additional clock hour.

Whether an individual actually gets an extra hour of sleep depends on their personal schedule, but the clock itself moves backward one hour.

What Time Should I Change My Clock in November 2026?

The official transition occurs at 2:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

At that point:

2:00 a.m. becomes 1:00 a.m.

If your clock does not update automatically, you can set it back one hour before going to sleep on Saturday, October 31.

Phones and other connected devices commonly make the change automatically, although device settings should be checked if automatic time-zone adjustment has been disabled.

Does Arizona Change Its Clocks in November 2026?

Most of Arizona does not observe daylight saving time and therefore does not participate in the regular spring and fall clock changes.

There is an important exception: the Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time.

This distinction is one reason travelers in Arizona can occasionally encounter time-related confusion.

Does Hawaii Change Its Clocks?

No.

Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time and remains on standard time year-round.

Therefore, Hawaii does not “spring forward” in March or “fall back” in November.

What Happens If Permanent Daylight Saving Time Becomes Law?

If permanent DST legislation becomes law and takes effect, participating areas would stop making the traditional seasonal transition between daylight saving time and standard time.

The practical consequences would include:

No regular November “fall back” transition for covered areas.
No regular March “spring forward” transition once the permanent system is fully implemented.
Later clock-time sunsets compared with standard time.
Later clock-time winter sunrises compared with standard time.
Changes to timekeeping systems, schedules and time-zone databases to reflect the new legal rules.

The precise implementation would depend on the final legislation that is enacted.

Until legislation actually becomes law, current DST rules remain the relevant schedule.

Will Permanent Daylight Saving Time Give Us More Sunlight?

No.

Permanent daylight saving time would not increase the amount of sunlight a location receives.

The seasons and Earth’s position determine how many hours of daylight occur between sunrise and sunset.

Changing the clock simply changes the clock time assigned to sunrise and sunset.

For example, if sunrise occurs at 7:30 a.m. under standard time, that same moment would appear as 8:30 a.m. if clocks were permanently advanced by one hour.

Likewise, sunset would appear one hour later on the clock.

Is It “Daylight Saving” or “Daylight Savings” Time?

The official term is daylight saving time — without an “s” after “saving.”

However, daylight savings time is extremely common in everyday speech and search queries.

That is why readers may encounter both phrases when looking for information about the 2026 clock change.

Government agencies including NIST and the Department of Transportation generally use the official term daylight saving time.

What Should Americans Expect in November 2026?

Unless federal law changes before the scheduled transition, Americans living in places that observe daylight saving time should expect the normal November clock change.

The key date is:

Sunday, November 1, 2026

At 2:00 a.m. local time, clocks move backward one hour to 1:00 a.m.

The Sunshine Protection Act remains relevant because it could change how the country handles daylight saving time in the future, but it has not eliminated the November 2026 transition under the law currently in effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is daylight saving time ending permanently in 2026?

No. As of September 21, 2026, permanent daylight saving time has not become federal law. The House passed H.R. 139 in July, but the latest official action shows the bill referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

When do the clocks go back in 2026?

Clocks go back one hour on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. local time in U.S. areas that observe daylight saving time.

Are we changing the clocks in November 2026?

Yes, under the current federal schedule. Participating locations are scheduled to return to standard time on November 1, 2026.

Is daylight saving time now permanent?

No. A proposal to make DST permanent has passed the House, but it has not completed the legislative process required to become federal law.

Did Congress pass permanent daylight saving time?

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act, by a 308–117 vote on July 14, 2026. The bill was then sent to the Senate and referred to committee. It has not yet become law.

What date does daylight saving time end in 2026?

Daylight saving time ends on November 1, 2026.

Do we gain or lose an hour in November 2026?

Clocks move backward one hour in November, so one clock hour repeats during the transition.

What states do not change their clocks?

Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time. Federal law allows states to exempt themselves from observing DST.

Can states choose permanent daylight saving time?

Not independently under current federal law. The Department of Transportation states that states can exempt themselves from DST but do not currently have authority to adopt permanent DST on their own.

What is the Sunshine Protection Act?

The Sunshine Protection Act is federal legislation designed to make daylight saving time permanent. H.R. 139 passed the House in July 2026 and was subsequently referred to the Senate Commerce Committee.

The Bottom Line

Daylight saving time is not currently scheduled to disappear permanently in 2026.

Instead, DST is scheduled to end for the year on November 1, 2026, when clocks in participating U.S. locations move backward one hour.

The situation could change in the future because Congress is considering legislation to establish permanent daylight saving time.

The House passed the Sunshine Protection Act, H.R. 139, by a vote of 308–117 on July 14, 2026. The Senate received the bill the following day and referred it to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Until a change is enacted into law, the existing U.S. daylight saving time schedule remains in effect.

For 2026, that means one date should remain on your calendar:

Sunday, November 1, 2026 — fall back one hour.