When will Ukraine and other countries switch to winter time in 2026?
In 2026, Ukraine will switch to winter time on October 25. Most countries in Europe will change their time on the same day, while the US and Canada will do so on November 1. The question of whether to abolish the practice of changing clocks in Ukraine remains open.
In Ukraine, the switch to winter time in 2026 is planned for October 25. On the night from Saturday to Sunday, the clocks will be changed from 04:00 to 03:00, making the night one hour longer.
Most countries in Europe, including Poland, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, will also switch to winter time on October 25. After this, Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, and Paris will be one hour behind Ukraine, while London, Dublin, and Lisbon will be two hours behind, and Bucharest, Sofia, Athens, and Vilnius will have the same time as Kyiv. Istanbul will be one hour ahead of Ukraine, and Dubai will be two hours ahead.
In the United States and most regions of Canada, the switch to winter time will take place on November 1. Due to the difference in the dates of the switch, the time difference with these countries will temporarily change.
It is worth noting that not all countries switch their clocks. Turkey uses a constant UTC+3 time, and Iceland does not switch its clocks since 1968 year. In Australia and New Zealand, where it is currently spring, they will switch to daylight saving time in October.
In Ukraine, the issue of abolishing seasonal time changes remains a topic of debate. In July 2024 year, the Verkhovna Rada adopted draft law No. 4201 "On Timekeeping in Ukraine," which provided for the abolition of changing clocks, but as of October 2026 year, it has not come into force. Therefore, the rules defined by the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 509 from May 13 1996 year are still in effect. The next switch to daylight saving time in Ukraine is scheduled for March 28 2027 year.