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We’ve sadly bid farewell to summer in Australia, and soon, we’ll have to say goodbye to the next best thing – daylight saving time. Since October last year, those of us in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT have been soaking up an extra hour of evening sunlight. But all good things must come to an end, with daylight saving officially wrapping up in early April.
Wondering when the clocks go back? Here’s everything you need to know about the end of daylight saving in Australia in 2026.
When does daylight savings end 2026?
In 2026, daylight saving in Australia ends on Sunday, April 5.
When is the time change for daylight savings?
Daylight savings always ends on the first Sunday in April at 3am local time.
Do you lose an hour of sleep when daylight savings ends?
No, the opposite! One good thing about daylight savings ending is that we score a bonus hour of sleep on the morning of April 5, as the clocks wind back from 3am to 2am. With the shift, sunrise and sunset will happen one hour earlier, meaning brighter mornings but darker evenings. So, hooray for sunrise strolls, but boo for commuting home from the office in the dark.
When do clocks go back for daylight savings?
Anyone who uses their smartphone as their alarm clock won’t have to worry about this one – it’ll automatically do the job for you. But if you’re kicking it old-school with an analogue clock or watch, you’ll need to wind it back by one hour in the morning on April 5. We suggest doing it the night before so you don’t rock up an hour early to your Sunday gym class or coffee date.
Which Australian states observe daylight savings?
Daylight saving time is observed in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Norfolk Island. However, Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands don’t change their clocks for daylight saving.
How does daylight savings affect time zones in Australia?
In Australia, some time zones use a different UTC-offset and name for daylight saving time (DST). Once daylight saving time ends on April 5, the country will revert to its standard time zones. Here’s what that looks like in each capital city:
- Australian Western Time (AWST) – UTC +8 (Perth)
- Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) – UTC +9.30 (Adelaide, Darwin)
- Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) – UTC +10 (Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney)
Why do we have daylight savings in Australia?
Daylight saving time was first introduced in 1916 to save energy during World War I and II. By shifting the clock forward an hour, soldiers could take advantage of longer sunlight hours and increase productivity. While all Australian states and territories observed daylight saving time during the wars, Tasmania made it a permanent fixture in 1968. New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and the ACT followed suit in 1971.
When does daylight savings start in 2026?
Daylight saving time returns on Sunday, October 4, 2026, bringing back that beloved extra hour of evening sunlight. We’re already counting down the days.
Is it daylight saving or daylight savings?
Technically, it’s daylight saving – but let’s be real, most of us add an ‘s’ on the end in everyday conversation.
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