Daylight Saving Time Facts and Statistics 2026 (DST in the U.S. and Worldwide)

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of moving clocks forward by one hour during part of the year to shift more daylight into the evening. In places that observe it, clocks are typically moved forward in spring (“spring forward”) and moved back in fall (“fall back”).

DST is not used everywhere, and rules vary by country and region. In the United States, DST is governed by federal law, with some states and territories exempt from observing it.

This page compiles verified Daylight Saving Time facts and historical milestones with source links for each data point.

Daylight Saving Time key facts (2026)

What is Daylight Saving Time?

Daylight Saving Time shifts the clock forward by one hour for part of the year. The purpose is to move an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening by the clock, which can affect schedules for work, school, travel, and recreation.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the period roughly from March to November is typically called daylight saving time, while the period roughly from November to March is standard time in regions that switch clocks.

Daylight Saving Time facts

• Who first proposed modern Daylight Saving Time? George Hudson of New Zealand in 1895
• Where was the first nationwide implementation of Daylight Saving Time? Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1916
• When did Daylight Saving Time begin in the UK? 1916 (British Summer Time introduced during World War I)
• When did Daylight Saving Time begin in the U.S.? March 31, 1918 (under the Standard Time Act)
• Why was Daylight Saving Time implemented in the U.S.? Historically, as an energy-conservation measure during wartime
• When does Daylight Saving Time begin each year in the U.S.? The second Sunday in March (rule in effect since 2007)
• When does Daylight Saving Time end each year in the U.S.? The first Sunday in November (rule in effect since 2007)
• Where in the U.S. is Daylight Saving Time generally not observed? Hawaii and most of Arizona (with exceptions such as the Navajo Nation in Arizona)
• Did the U.S. always observe DST continuously? No. It was repealed after World War I and later standardized by the Uniform Time Act of 1966.

U.S. Daylight Saving Time dates (2026)

• Starts: Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 2:00 a.m. local time
• Ends: Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 2:00 a.m. local time

At the spring transition, clocks move forward from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. At the fall transition, clocks move back from 2:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

FAQ

Is it “Daylight Saving Time” or “Daylight Savings Time”?

The formal term is Daylight Saving Time (singular “Saving”). “Daylight Savings Time” is a very common informal usage.

Do all U.S. states observe Daylight Saving Time?

No. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe DST, and several U.S. territories also do not observe DST.

When did the current U.S. DST schedule begin?

The current U.S. schedule (second Sunday in March through first Sunday in November) has been in effect since 2007.

Was DST created for farmers?

That is a common misconception. Historical sources generally describe DST as an energy-related policy, especially in wartime, rather than a measure created to benefit farmers.

Sources / references

• NIST: Daylight Saving Time Rules (U.S. dates and 2026 schedule)
• NIST: Local Time FAQs (U.S. DST exceptions and rules overview)
• U.S. Naval Observatory: Daylight Saving Time FAQ (U.S. history and current rules)
• Britannica: Daylight Saving Time debate (historical milestones)
• Wikipedia: Daylight saving time (George Hudson proposal reference)
• Wikipedia: Summer Time Act 1916 (UK DST origin context)