Daylight saving time (DST) in the United States began on Sunday, March 8, 2026, when clocks moved forward by one hour at 2 a.m. local time. The change means most Americans lost an hour of sleep as clocks jumped from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Since 2007, daylight saving time has started on the second Sunday of March, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory, which serves as the official source of time for the US Department of Defense.

The time change occurs just days before the vernal equinox, which marks the official start of spring on March 20.

Daylight saving time will remain in effect for most of the year before ending on November 1, 2026. At 2 a.m. local time on that day, clocks will move back one hour to standard time, a change commonly described as “falling back”.

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, daylight saving time will last for 238 days in 2026.

Not all parts of the United States observe daylight saving time. The U.S. Department of Transportation states that the state of Hawaii and most of Arizona do not follow the practice.

Within Arizona, however, the Navajo Nation continues to observe daylight saving time due to its presence across multiple states.

Several US territories also do not participate in the time change. These include American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Under the Uniform Time Act, states are allowed to opt out of daylight saving time by passing their own legislation, though most continue to observe the annual clock adjustment.