When Do the Clocks Go Back in 2026?
In 2026 the clocks go back on Sunday, 25 October 2026, ending British Summer Time and returning the UK to Greenwich Mean Time.
What happens on the day
At 02:00 BST on Sunday, 25 October 2026 the clocks fall back to 01:00 GMT. You gain an extra hour in bed, and the UK is on GMT until the spring change on Sunday, 28 March 2027.
Sunrise and sunset both happen an hour earlier by the clock. In London the sun sets around 16:50 shortly after the change, compared with about 17:50 the week before.
What to check
Smartphones, laptops and tablets update by themselves. Manually set clocks, such as ovens, microwaves and some car dashboards, need adjusting, along with any timer-based heating or lighting.
If you work shifts overnight on the clock-change weekend, your shift is an hour longer in autumn and an hour shorter in spring, which matters for pay and rota planning.
Effect on international time gaps
The gap with the US east coast shrinks to four hours on this date, and returns to five hours when the US clocks go back one week later. The gap with Sydney widens to eleven hours.
Frequently asked questions
What time exactly do the clocks change?
Clocks go forward at 01:00 GMT, which becomes 02:00 BST, in spring. They go back at 02:00 BST, which becomes 01:00 GMT, in autumn.
Do the clocks change at the same time across the UK?
Yes. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all change at the same moment.
Clock change guides
- What Is Daylight Saving Time (DST)? A Plain-English GuideWhat daylight saving time is, how it works in the UK, Europe and the US, why it exists, its history, who uses it and the argument over scrapping it.
- Why Do the Clocks Go Back in October? The Real ReasonThe clocks go back in autumn to return the UK to GMT, so winter mornings are lighter. The history, the rule, what time it happens and what changes for you.
- When Do the Clocks Go Forward Again After Going Back?When the UK clocks go forward again after the autumn change, how long the UK stays on GMT, when evenings get lighter and how to remember to reset your clocks.