Clocks will go back at 2am on Sunday, October 25, 2026, as the UK transitions from British Summer Time (BST) to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). At that moment, clocks revert to 1am, giving many people an extra hour in bed.
This year's date is one day earlier than last year's October 26 change, because the autumnal time change always occurs on the final Sunday in October. The days have been shortening since the summer solstice on June 21, and the change will bring even earlier sunsets, though mornings will be brighter for a while.
Sunset times after the change
Once the clocks change, much of the UK can expect pre-5pm sunsets. In London, the predicted sunset on October 25 is 4.46pm. Edinburgh is forecast to see sunset at around 4.48pm, and Cardiff at 4.59pm on the same date.
Belfast is predicted to experience its first pre-5pm sunset of the season at 4.58pm on Tuesday, October 27.
Why do we have British Summer Time?
The concept of daylight saving time was first floated by Benjamin Franklin in 1784, but British campaigner William Willett made the first formal proposal in 1907. Frustrated by the loss of morning sunlight during summer, Willett outlined his vision in a self-published pamphlet, The Waste of Daylight, according to Royal Museums Greenwich.
Germany became the first nation to implement daylight saving time in 1916, a year after Willett's death, with the UK and several other World War I combatants following shortly after. The practice spread globally, though its practical benefits remain debated today.
When will the clocks change in 2027?
In 2027, BST begins again on Sunday, March 28, when clocks move forward from 1am to 2am. BST will then remain in effect until the clocks go back on Sunday, October 31, which falls on Halloween.
