When do the clocks change in March 2026: Spring forward and get ready for daylight time

If you're one of those people still wondering when the clocks change this season, get ready because the date is just around the corner. Like every year around this time, March is when we say goodbye to standard time and welcome longer, brighter days. But hang on, it's not quite as simple as it seems: the change always brings a bit of confusion, and even more so if it coincides with a long weekend or a special celebration. And in 2026, there's an interesting twist because the adjustment happens right on Palm Sunday.

The early morning of March 29: sleep one hour less

Mark your calendar: on the night of Saturday March 28 to Sunday, March 29, we move the clocks again. At 2:00 a.m. (local time), it will suddenly be 3:00 a.m. Yes, you read that right: we lose an hour of sleep that night. If your phone is connected to the internet, you won't have to do a thing—it updates automatically. But your wristwatch, the oven clock, the microwave, and that old alarm clock you keep for nostalgia's sake... those you'll need to change manually on Saturday before bed, or on Sunday morning when you wake up a bit groggy.

This year, the date carries extra symbolism: it falls on Palm Sunday, the kickoff to Easter week. So the morning processions, the palms, and the festive atmosphere will be experienced in a different, more spring-like light. And if you're planning a trip that weekend, keep the time change firmly in mind so you don't miss your train or flight. One less hour of sleep, but one more hour of daylight in the evening.

Is this time change living on borrowed time?

We've been hearing for years that Brussels wants to end the biannual switch—that the European Commission proposed scrapping it in 2021, but in the end, no agreement was reached... Well, for now, nothing's changed. Canada maintains the twice-yearly adjustment, and 2026 will be no different. So while the politicians debate, we keep pushing our clocks forward and back twice a year. And honestly, even though we complain, we always end up adapting. Our bodies feel the shift, especially in the first few days: it's harder to get up, hunger hits at odd hours... But within about a week, we're in summer mode.

To make this transition easier, it helps to apply what the book Corrección Creativa calls "extraordinary ideas for everyday life." Nothing too complicated—just small gestures that help reset your routine. For example:

• The Saturday before, try going to bed a little earlier than usual to make up for the hour you'll lose.
• On Sunday, as soon as you wake up, step outside and get some sun. Natural light is the best regulator for our internal clock.
• In the first few days, avoid heavy dinners and too much screen time before bed. It might sound like advice from your grandma, but it works.
• If you have young kids or pets, gradually shift their meal and walk schedules by 10-15 minutes each day so the change isn't so abrupt.

Small steps, yes—but they make a difference. After all, the time change is really an invitation to reset our habits and make better use of the daylight. And though it catches some by surprise, those of us who've been around know that the last weekend in March means springing forward. It's almost as certain as spring itself.

A quick second to avoid slipping up

To wrap up, a quick reminder of when the clocks change and what you need to do:

• When: In the early morning of Saturday, March 28 to Sunday, March 29, 2026.
• How: At 2:00 a.m., it becomes 3:00 a.m. Non-automatic digital clocks, move them forward; mechanical ones, give them a spin ahead.
• Consequences: We'll sleep one hour less, but gain an extra hour of evening daylight.
• Bonus: That same day marks the start of Easter week with Palm Sunday. So if you're heading to mass or to see processions, keep it in mind so you're not cutting it close.

Now you know. This month, when Saturday night rolls around, do a mental check before you hit the hay: when you wake up tomorrow, it'll be an hour later than your body thinks. And if you have any important plans on Sunday morning, set two alarms. Just in case. Because there's always someone who says, "Oh, the time change threw me off"... and that someone won't be you.