How and when Ukraine will switch to winter time in 2026

This year, Ukrainians will once again face a change in clock settings. Despite the parliament's decision to abandon seasonal time shifts, current legislation remains unchanged. Therefore, in autumn 2026, the clocks will again have to be turned back by one hour.

Exact time of the change

The switch to winter time is scheduled for the night from Saturday, 24 October, to Sunday, 25 October. According to current rules, at 04:00 in the morning, clocks must be set back to 03:00. This adjustment means that the night will last one hour longer, giving residents of the country extra time for sleep.

Owners of modern electronic devices, such as smartphones and computers, usually do not need to intervene in the process. If the automatic time detection function is enabled on the gadget, the device will automatically adapt to the new mode. However, mechanical clocks, simple alarm clocks, and other devices without automatic settings will need to be adjusted manually.

Why the abolition of time changes has not happened

As early as July 2024, the Verkhovna Rada supported bill No. 4201 "On the Calculation of Time in Ukraine". This document provided for a complete abandonment of the annual transition between summer and winter time in favour of permanent Kyiv time.

However, the law has not yet entered into force. After being adopted by the parliament, the document was sent to the President of Ukraine for signature, but it remained unsigned. As a result, Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 509, which regulates the procedure for seasonal time changes, continues to apply in Ukraine.

Under these rules, clocks are moved forward by one hour on the last Sunday of March in spring, and back by one hour on the last Sunday of October in autumn. Thus, over the upcoming weekend, Ukrainians will again switch to winter time. The exact dates for the final abolition of seasonal clock changes are currently unknown.