When Do the Clocks Go Forward? UK Clock Change 2026
UK clocks go forward 0 hours on Sunday, 28 March 2027 at 2:00 AM, when British Summer Time begins.
Next clock change · United Kingdom
Sunday, 28 March 2027
at 2:00 AM local time, clocks go forward 0 hours (UTC+1 → UTC+1)
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UK clock change dates
| Year | Clocks go forward (BST starts) | Clocks go back (BST ends) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday 29 March, 1:00 AM → 2:00 AM | Sunday 25 October, 2:00 AM → 1:00 AM |
| 2027 | Sunday 28 March, 1:00 AM → 2:00 AM | Sunday 31 October, 2:00 AM → 1:00 AM |
| 2028 | Sunday 26 March, 1:00 AM → 2:00 AM | Sunday 29 October, 2:00 AM → 1:00 AM |
| 2029 | Sunday 25 March, 1:00 AM → 2:00 AM | Sunday 28 October, 2:00 AM → 1:00 AM |
| 2030 | Sunday 31 March, 1:00 AM → 2:00 AM | Sunday 27 October, 2:00 AM → 1:00 AM |
Clock changes around the world
| Region | Next change | Clocks | In |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Sun, 1 Nov 2026, 2:00 AM | Back 1 hour → UTC−5 | 8 days |
| Canada (most) | Sun, 1 Nov 2026, 2:00 AM | Back 1 hour → UTC−5 | 8 days |
| Israel | Fri, 26 Mar 2027, 3:00 AM | Forward 0 hours → UTC+3 | 152 days |
| United Kingdom | Sun, 28 Mar 2027, 2:00 AM | Forward 0 hours → UTC+1 | 154 days |
| European Union | Sun, 28 Mar 2027, 3:00 AM | Forward 0 hours → UTC+2 | 154 days |
| New Zealand | Sun, 4 Apr 2027, 3:00 AM | Back 1 hour → UTC+12 | 161 days |
| Australia (Sydney, Melbourne) | Sun, 4 Apr 2027, 3:00 AM | Back 1 hour → UTC+10 | 161 days |
| Chile | Sun, 4 Apr 2027, 12:00 AM | Back 1 hour → UTC−4 | 161 days |
| Mexico (most) | No DST | Stays on UTC−6 | - |
| Arizona | No DST | Stays on UTC−7 | - |
| Japan | No DST | Stays on UTC+9 | - |
| India | No DST | Stays on UTC+5:30 | - |
Spring forward, fall back
The UK changes its clocks twice a year. On the last Sunday in March the clocks go forward one hour at 1:00 AM, so 1:00 AM becomes 2:00 AM and British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) begins. On the last Sunday in October the clocks go back one hour at 2:00 AM, so 2:00 AM becomes 1:00 AM and the UK returns to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0).
An easy way to remember which way they go: spring forward, fall back. In March you lose an hour of sleep; in October you gain one.
GMT and BST
GMT is the UK's standard time and is used from late October to late March. BST is one hour ahead of GMT and runs through the summer, so that evenings stay light for longer. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all change on the same night, and so do the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The Republic of Ireland changes at the same moment too.
What happens on the night the clocks go back
At 2:00 AM BST, clocks go back to 1:00 AM GMT, so the hour from 1:00 to 2:00 AM happens twice. That night is 25 hours long. Night-shift workers often work an extra hour, and timetables for overnight trains and buses list the times carefully. When the clocks go forward in March, the hour from 1:00 to 2:00 AM is skipped and the night is 23 hours long.
Do I need to change my clocks?
Phones, computers, smart speakers and most new TVs change automatically. Change the clock in your car, oven, microwave, central heating timer and any wall clocks by hand. Radio-controlled clocks usually adjust themselves overnight.
Why the UK changes its clocks
British Summer Time was introduced by the Summer Time Act 1916, during the First World War, to make better use of daylight in the evenings. During the Second World War the UK used British Double Summer Time, two hours ahead of GMT in summer. From 1968 to 1971 the UK tried staying on BST all year, but the experiment ended because winter mornings in the north stayed dark until well after 9 AM.
Will the UK stop changing the clocks?
There are regular debates about it, but there is no plan in place to stop. The clocks will continue to go forward in March and back in October unless Parliament changes the law. Any change would also need to consider Northern Ireland, which shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland.
For the clock changes in the US, Europe and other countries, see daylight saving time. For the current time across the country, see time in the UK.