On Sunday, October 25, 2026, Ukraine will switch to standard (winter) time: at 04:00 Kyiv time, the clock hands will be turned back one hour to 03:00. Thus, the country will return to the standard time of the second time zone. On the same day, a similar transition will take place in most European countries, while in a number of other regions of the world, the dates of the time change differ. This information is confirmed by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers, the European Commission calendar, and international reference resources regarding seasonal time changes.
When Exactly the Clocks Will Be Changed in Ukraine
The legal basis for the transition is Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 509 of May 13, 1996, "On the Procedure for Calculating Time on the Territory of Ukraine," according to which the transition to winter time occurs on the last Sunday of October. In 2026, this is October 25. At 04:00, the clocks are turned back to 03:00, after which the standard time of the second time zone is in effect again in the country. The bill to abolish the seasonal clock change, specifically the previously adopted bill No. 4201, did not enter into force, so the current rules remain unchanged.
How the Time Change Will Affect Europe
According to the European Commission calendar, the seasonal transition in EU countries remains in place: in 2026, daylight saving time ends on October 25 at 01:00 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), and the exact local switching time depends on the time zone. In most Central European countries, clocks will be moved from 03:00 to 02:00 local time. In countries of the Eastern European time zone—specifically Romania, Bulgaria, and Finland—the transition will take place from 04:00 to 03:00. In the UK and Ireland, the clocks will be moved from 02:00 to 01:00.
Where in the World Clocks Switch to Winter Time on Other Dates
Seasonal time changes apply not only in Europe, but also in parts of other regions of the world, although the transition dates differ. In the United States, in most states, daylight saving time will end on November 1, 2026—a week later than in Europe: at 02:00 local time, clocks will be turned back to 01:00, with the exception of Hawaii and most of Arizona, where the seasonal transition is not used. In Canada, in most provinces and territories where daylight saving time is observed, clocks will also be turned back on November 1, 2026, with rules depending on the specific province. In Australia, in states and territories that use daylight saving time, clocks were already moved forward on October 4, 2026; in Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory, there is no seasonal change. In New Zealand, daylight saving time began on September 27, 2026, and the clocks will be turned back an hour on April 4, 2027.
Why the Abolition of Seasonal Time Change Never Happened
The issue of abandoning the seasonal clock change in the European Union has been discussed for several years. In 2018, the European Commission held consultations on abolishing this practice, and in 2019 the European Parliament supported the relevant proposal, but a final decision terminating the seasonal transition in EU countries was never adopted. The situation in Ukraine is similar: the law on abolishing the clock change did not enter into force, so in 2026 the transition to winter time will take place as usual. Practically speaking, for users of smartphones, tablets, computers, and smartwatches with automatic synchronization enabled, the time will change automatically, whereas mechanical and outdated electronic devices will need to be adjusted manually.
