Daylight saving time in the United States will begin on March 8, 2026, when clocks across most of the country are moved forward by one hour, reports Baltimore Chronicle via ABC News. The seasonal time shift, widely known as the moment when Americans “spring forward,” will take place at 2 a.m. local time, when clocks immediately advance to 3 a.m.
The annual adjustment is designed to extend daylight hours during the evening months by shifting an hour of daylight from the morning to later in the day. Although many people informally refer to the change as “daylight savings time,” the official term established in federal legislation is “daylight saving time.” The distinction reflects the wording used in U.S. law that governs the country’s official timekeeping system.
In 2026, daylight saving time will start on the second Sunday of March, which falls on March 8. According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, the period will continue until Nov. 1, when clocks will return to standard time. The current schedule has been in place since 2007, when federal regulations extended the daylight saving period.
The practice itself dates back more than a century. The time adjustment was introduced after the Standard Time Act was enacted in 1918, a measure that established standardized time zones across the United States. Historical records referenced by the Library of Congress indicate that the first nationwide implementation of daylight saving time occurred shortly after the law took effect in March of that year.
When the spring transition occurs, most people lose an hour of sleep because the clock skips from 2 a.m. directly to 3 a.m. The one-hour shift can temporarily disrupt sleep patterns and daily routines as individuals adapt to the new schedule.
Despite the nationwide observance, several U.S. regions do not participate in daylight saving time. Most states follow the seasonal clock change, as do the District of Columbia and the Navajo Nation. However, Arizona does not observe the practice except within the Navajo Nation, while Hawaii also remains on standard time throughout the year. Several U.S. territories likewise do not adjust their clocks, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The seasonal time change has long been the subject of policy debates in Washington. Lawmakers have periodically proposed reforms ranging from eliminating the clock change entirely to altering the length of the shift. One of the latest proposals, H.R. 7378, known as the Daylight Act of 2026, suggests modifying the time adjustment so that clocks would move only half an hour instead of a full hour. The proposal remains part of a broader discussion about whether the United States should continue the current system.
Health experts have also studied the potential impact of the time change. Because the spring transition shortens sleep for many people during the first few days after the shift, researchers have examined links between daylight saving time and short-term health effects.
Dr. Darien Sutton, medical correspondent for ABC News, said in 2025 on “Good Morning America” that even modest disruptions to sleep schedules can influence the body’s stress response. According to Sutton, reductions in sleep can increase stress hormone levels and are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, particularly among women and older adults during the first two days following the time change.
To reduce potential effects of the transition, Sutton recommended gradually adjusting bedtime in the days leading up to the clock change. Moving sleep schedules earlier by about 15 to 20 minutes before the transition may help ease the shift.
Maintaining consistent sleep habits is also considered important during the first week after daylight saving time begins. Sutton advised avoiding alcohol during the adjustment period and ensuring exposure to natural daylight shortly after waking.
Getting at least 15 minutes of natural light early in the day and taking a short walk outdoors can help regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, which governs sleep-wake cycles and other biological processes influenced by light exposure.
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