Daylight Saving Time Ends
UK and Ireland will end daylight saving time when clocks move back in October.
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Key Points
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Timeanddate.com estimates that sunset in Ireland will move from 8:02 p.m. on September 6 to 7:04 p.m. on September 30, reaching 5:07 p.m. on October 25, 2026.
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The seasonal clock change remains in place across EU member states, with Iceland identified as the sole exception because it stays on Western European Time year-round.
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The European Union voted in 2019 to potentially abolish the twice-yearly clock changes after a survey found that most respondents preferred not to change their clocks, but the proposal was postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In Ireland, former Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall argued for keeping the time unchanged during winter, saying brighter evenings could benefit older people’s exercise, mood and social wellbeing, particularly those living alone.
The UK and Ireland will turn back their clocks one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2026, ending daylight saving time a day earlier than in 2025. Birmingham Mail confirmed the shift from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time will trigger brighter mornings but earlier sunsets — reaching 5:07 p.m. by late October, according to Timeanddate. You'll gain an extra hour of sleep, though evening commutes will grow darker as autumn deepens.
How the October 25 Change Affects Your Day
When clocks shift back at 2 a.m., that moment becomes 1 a.m. — giving you 60 extra minutes of sleep. Most smartphones and smart devices update automatically, but you'll need to manually reset alarm clocks, car clocks, and older watches. The Sun notes the change marks the end of British Summer Time as daylight shrinks.
Sunset times will shift dramatically over the following weeks. In Ireland, Timeanddate estimates sunset moves from 8:02 p.m. on September 6 to just 5:07 p.m. by October 25. That early darkness means darker evening commutes but brighter wake-up times through the winter months.
Why the UK Changed October 25 to a Day Earlier
The UK shifted the 2026 clock change from October 31 to October 25 to align timing across regions. Belfast Live confirmed clocks will go back a day earlier than in 2025. The change happens consistently across British Summer Time zones, keeping the switch predictable year after year.
Clocks will move forward again on March 28, 2027, when British Summer Time returns. The following autumn, they'll fall back again on October 31, 2027, resuming the typical end-of-October schedule.
Europe's Debate Over Keeping Clocks Year-Round
The European Union voted in 2019 to potentially scrap the twice-yearly clock changes after surveys showed most people preferred no changes at all. Chronicle Live reported the shift reflects growing concerns about seasonal timekeeping across the continent. The proposal stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains on hold.
Iceland is the sole EU exception — it stays on Western European Time year-round with no clock adjustments. In Ireland, former TD Róisín Shortall has argued for keeping winter time permanent, saying brighter evenings could boost exercise, mood, and social connection for older people living alone. That debate continues as the October 25 change approaches.
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