What does “spring forward” mean?

Spring forward means clocks are advanced by one hour at the start of daylight saving time. At 2:00 AM, the clock jumps to 3:00 AM, effectively skipping one hour. The result is one hour less sleep that night and an extra hour of evening daylight.

When do clocks spring forward in the US?

In the US, clocks spring forward at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday of March. In 2026, this falls on March 8. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe DST and do not spring forward.

When do clocks spring forward in Europe?

In the EU and UK, clocks spring forward at 1:00 AM UTC (which is 2:00 AM local time in the CET zone) on the last Sunday of March. In 2026, this falls on March 29 — about three weeks after the US transition.

Spring Forward: What Happens When Clocks Change

August 25, 2026

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Daylight Saving Time Explained: Who Changes, When, and Why

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “spring forward” mean?: Spring forward means clocks are advanced by one hour at the start of daylight saving time. At 2:00 AM, the clock jumps to 3:00 AM, effectively skipping one hour. The result is one hour less sleep that night and an extra hour of evening daylight.
When do clocks spring forward in the US?: In the US, clocks spring forward at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday of March. In 2026, this falls on March 8. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe DST and do not spring forward.
When do clocks spring forward in Europe?: In the EU and UK, clocks spring forward at 1:00 AM UTC (which is 2:00 AM local time in the CET zone) on the last Sunday of March. In 2026, this falls on March 29 — about three weeks after the US transition.