Clock change on 26 october: will you turn back 60 minutes at 3am and gain an hour’s sleep?

The clocks are playing tricks again, stirring routines, shifting light, and raising doubts about what your phone will do.

Across France and much of Europe, a familiar ritual returns with cooler mornings and earlier dusk. Plans shift, alarms misfire, and sleepy households ask the same question. Do we go back or forward, and when does it actually happen?

What exactly happens on 26 october 2025

The winter clock change in France falls on Sunday 26 October 2025. The legal time moves back by 60 minutes.

At 3am in metropolitan France, the time becomes 2am, giving most people one extra hour in bed.

The shift applies in mainland France. It does not apply in most overseas territories. Saint‑Pierre‑et‑Miquelon remains the exception.

The date sits in a fixed slot each year. Winter time begins on the last Sunday in October. Summer time begins on the last Sunday in March.

When	What changes	Where it applies	Who must act
Sunday 26 October 2025	At 3am, clocks go back to 2am	Metropolitan France and EU countries following the scheme	Anyone with manual clocks or timers
Night of Saturday to Sunday	One extra hour available	Homes, workplaces, public transport networks	Travellers, shift workers, parents, carers

Why the european union still keeps the switch

The European Union aligned clock changes in 2002 to keep schedules consistent across borders. The approach limits confusion for travel and trade.

Brussels revisited the idea of ending seasonal changes in 2025 after a stalled proposal from 2019. Capitals need to align before any final move.

Governments want to avoid a patchwork of permanent times across neighbours. Businesses ask for predictability across supply chains.

Energy savings are shrinking

Early policies aimed to shave lighting costs in the evening. Modern homes use LEDs and smart systems that already cut demand.

Retail habits changed, and online activity moved energy use into new slots. The old gains look smaller in real bills today.

Your body notices the move

The clock jumps while your internal rhythm lags behind. Many people feel groggy for a few mornings after the switch.

Sleep specialists say most bodies adjust within a few days, and some people need up to two weeks.

Short-term effects include trouble falling asleep, reduced alertness, and lapses in focus. Children and shift workers often feel this most.

What will change for your day

Morning light will arrive earlier on the clock. Dusk will fall earlier on the clock as well.

Commuters will drive home in lower light. Pedestrians and cyclists will need brighter gear and better visibility.

Public transport will publish times in winter time from Sunday. International services will use local times at origin and destination.

Digital calendars will switch automatically if the device time zone is correct. Manual calendar entries can still slip by an hour.

Work shifts that cross 2am will run longer on paper. Employers usually apply clear rules to avoid disputes.

• If you have a flight early on Sunday, check the time zone on your booking.
• If you take a train near 2am, check whether it pauses, continues, or re-times at an intermediate stop.
• If you have a medical dose schedule, ask your pharmacist how to stagger the times safely.
• If you care for a baby, expect wake windows to shift for a few days.
• If you run servers or backups, confirm that jobs handle the repeated 2am hour correctly.

Five checks to make on saturday night

Some devices never got the memo. A quick round can save a Sunday headache.

• Kitchen clock, oven, microwave, coffee machine timer.
• Thermostat and heating programme start and stop times.
• Car dashboard clock and in‑car sat‑nav time setting.
• Wall clocks, bedside alarms, analogue wristwatches.
• Garden sprinklers, pool pumps, security systems, door intercoms.

Common confusions, answered

Do phones change themselves

Most smartphones update automatically when set to use network time. Manual time settings can stop the change.

Check Settings > Date and time, and keep “automatic time” on to avoid a one‑hour mismatch.

What happens to a 2.30am appointment

Appointments between 2am and 3am can repeat after the change. Many systems reschedule to the second 2.30am or to 3.30am.

Health and care teams often avoid this slot where possible. They will confirm the adjusted time if you ask.

Will my energy bill shift

You will use lights a little earlier in the evening. You may use less in the first hour of the morning.

Smart tariffs do not change rates because of the clock. They follow the published peak and off‑peak windows in local time.

Safety and wellbeing tips that help

Start winding your bedtime back by 10 to 15 minutes for three nights before the switch. Keep the wake time steady on Sunday.

Get morning daylight for at least 20 minutes. Natural light anchors your body clock and lifts alertness.

Avoid heavy meals late on Saturday. Light snacks sit better as your routine shifts.

Lay out reflective clothing and bike lights for Monday. The school run and the commute will be darker.

A quick scenario to test your plan

Imagine a train due to leave Lyon at 02.10 on Sunday. The operator publishes the time in winter time.

The station clock will show 02.10 after the change. Your phone will match if it uses automatic time.

Arrivals later that morning will show an earlier clock time than last week. The actual journey time stays the same.

What to know if you work nights

Shifts that run through 2am gain one clock hour. Employers may adjust pay or finish times under local agreements.

Keep a paper note of task times in UTC if you handle logs. Duplicate timestamps can confuse audits and alerts.

The bigger picture for next year

EU institutions continue to study a move to permanent time. Member states will need to align choices to keep cross‑border life simple.

For now, the rhythm stays the same. The last Sunday of October brings winter time, and the last Sunday of March brings summer time.