When does daylight saving time end in 2026?
Unless Congress makes federal changes before then, Alabama will turn the clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. Nov. 1.
The good news for tired Alabamians is the time change creates an extra hour between midnight and dawn, meaning many people can get an additional hour of sleep.
The bad news? It’ll get darker earlier in the evening.
Most phones and other internet-connected devices should change automatically. If you have an older clock, appliance or vehicle with a manual clock, you’ll want to change it yourself.
Did Alabama vote for permanent daylight saving time?
Yes, Alabama lawmakers approved a bill in 2021 that would allow the state to stay on daylight saving time year-round, but there's a catch.
The law cannot take effect unless Congress changes federal law to allow states to adopt permanent daylight saving time.
Is daylight saving time permanent?
Not yet.
The U.S. House passed the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 on July 14 by a vote of 308-117. The measure was sent to the Senate, where it has yet to advance.
If passed, the legislation would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. Still, with Congress scheduled to leave for an extended recess Oct. 5, the Senate has a limited window to act before the Nov. 1 clock change.
Does every state follow daylight saving time?
No. Most of the country changes its clocks twice a year, but there are a few exceptions.
Hawaii stays on standard time throughout the year, as does most of Arizona. However, the Navajo Nation, whose territory includes portions of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, does observe daylight saving time.
Several U.S. territories also keep the same time year-round rather than switching between daylight saving and standard time. They include:
Puerto Rico
Guam
U.S. Virgin Islands
American Samoa
Northern Mariana Islands
The U.S. House passed the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 on July 14 by a vote of 308-117. The measure was sent to the Senate, where it has yet to advance.
When does daylight saving time start again?
Under the current laws, daylight saving time is scheduled to return March 14, 2027.
That date could change if Congress passes legislation making daylight saving time permanent before then.
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com.