When is the Time Change in Canada 2026?

After a cold, hard winter, one of things Montreal most looks forward to is March Break—and "springing forward” one hour.

The practice of moving the clocks forward one hour means summer (and long, sun-soaked evenings) is on the way.

Read: It's official—this province is eliminating daylight savings time

When to turn clocks ahead in 2026?

Canadians (with a few exceptions) will set their clocks forward one hour from 02:00 (2 am) to 03:00 (3 am) local time on March 8, 2026.

Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour later on Mar 8, 2026 than the day before., with more light in the evenings and less light in the mornings.

When does Daylight Saving Time end in Canada?

Standard time, also known as winter time, will resume on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Is Canada going to get rid of daylight savings time?

Canada first adopted Daylight Saving Time (DST) in 1908, becoming a global pioneer when residents of Port Arthur, Ontario (now Thunder Bay), advanced their clocks by one hour on July 1 of that year. Other cities soon followed: Regina introduced DST in 1914, and Winnipeg and Brandon joined in 1916.

Between 1908 and 2026, Canada will have observed DST for 114 years (in at least one region). The last full year without any DST observance was 1913.

The decision to observe DST is governed provincially and municipally, which means participation varies by region. 

While most of British Columbia followed DST, several communities—such as Dawson Creek and Fort Nelson—do not. Saskatchewan is largely the opposite: most of the province stays on standard time year-round, with a few exceptions like Creighton and Denare Beach.

In 2020, Yukon adopted permanent DST.

Since 2007, all Canadian regions that observe DST have aligned their start and end dates with those of the United States.

Which province is eliminating the twice-yearly time change this March?

As of March 8, 2026, British Columbia will be adopting permanent daylight savings time.

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