Americans will once again turn their clocks back this fall, with no federal change to the country’s long-running daylight saving time system before the 2026 switch. Daylight Saving Time is scheduled to end on Sunday, November 1, when clocks in most of the United States will move back one hour at 2 a.m. local time.

The clock change comes as Congress continues to debate whether the United States should stop switching between daylight saving time and standard time twice a year. A bill designed to make daylight saving time permanent cleared the House in July, but it has not completed the legislative process needed to change the rules for this fall.

When Will the Clocks Change in 2026?

For most Americans, the fall change will happen in the early hours of Sunday, November 1. At 2 a.m., clocks will move back to 1 a.m., giving people an extra hour during the overnight period.

The current federal law sets daylight saving time from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November. That means the existing system remains in effect for 2026 unless Congress changes the law and the change takes effect in time.

The return to standard time will also mean earlier sunsets. While mornings will gain an hour of daylight compared with daylight saving time, evenings will become darker earlier.

2026 clock change	Date	What happens
Spring forward	March 8	Clocks moved ahead one hour
Fall back	November 1	Clocks move back one hour
Next DST period	March 2027	Current rules call for another spring change

What Happened to the Bill Ending the Clock Changes?

The latest congressional effort has moved further than some previous attempts. The House passed H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, on July 14, 2026. The legislation would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, while allowing states and territories that already use permanent standard time to continue doing so or choose permanent daylight saving time.

The bill was then received in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on July 15. It has not become law.

That means the November clock change remains on the calendar. A congressional proposal by itself does not replace the existing federal time law.

Why the Debate Keeps Coming Back

The twice-yearly clock change has remained a recurring issue in Washington because Americans and lawmakers disagree about which system should be permanent.

Supporters of permanent daylight saving time argue that keeping the clock shifted forward would provide more daylight during evening hours. The House Republican Conference, for example, said the 2026 legislation would provide greater consistency and more evening daylight for families and workers.

Other lawmakers have pursued a different approach. H.R. 9638, the Sunshine for Our Kids Act of 2026, was introduced in July and would make standard time permanent while allowing states to choose permanent daylight saving time. The measure was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The disagreement is therefore not simply about whether to end clock changes. There is also a separate question over which time system should become permanent.

What the November Change Means for Americans

For households, the November switch is more than a one-hour adjustment. The change affects sleep schedules, work routines, school mornings, travel plans and evening activities.

People who work across different time zones also have to pay attention because the shift does not happen everywhere in the United States. Most states observe daylight saving time, while Hawaii and most of Arizona do not. U.S. territories generally do not observe daylight saving time either.

The fall transition can also make the first few days feel different because sunrise and sunset shift relative to the clock. In practical terms, the morning becomes lighter earlier, while darkness arrives sooner in the afternoon and evening.

For anyone with appointments, flights or electronic devices that do not automatically update, checking the local time around November 1 can help avoid confusion.

Could the US Stop Changing Clocks Later?

Yes, but Congress would need to complete the legislative process and establish a new federal rule. The current law remains in place, so the November 2026 change will happen under the existing schedule unless a future law changes it.

The Senate’s handling of the Sunshine Protection Act will therefore remain important for anyone hoping the United States eventually stops the twice-yearly switch. But as of September 2026, there is no enacted federal law eliminating the November change.

For now, Americans should expect the familiar “fall back” weekend. On November 1, most clocks will move back one hour, standard time will return, and the debate over America’s long-running clock system will continue into another season.

FAQ

When do clocks fall back in 2026?

Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026. At 2 a.m. local daylight time, clocks will move back one hour to 1 a.m. standard time.

Did Congress pass a bill to end daylight saving time?

The House passed the Sunshine Protection Act in July 2026, but the bill has not become law. It was received in the Senate and referred to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

Will the US change clocks again in 2027?

Under the current law, daylight saving time is scheduled to begin again on March 14, 2027, and end on November 7, 2027. Those dates would change if Congress enacts a new federal time law before then.