When Do the Clocks Change in the UK in 2026?
Get a clear, accurate explanation with examples and useful comparisons. When Do the Clocks Change in the UK in 2026?.
When Do the Clocks Change in the UK in 2026?
UK clock-change dates in 2026
The United Kingdom put its clocks forward on Sunday, March 29, 2026, and put them back on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Those are the last Sundays of March and October. These dates are distinct from the US daylight-saving schedule.
| 2026 UK change | Local clock reading | Result |
| March 29, spring forward | 1:00 AM GMT → 2:00 AM BST | One hour skipped |
| October 25, fall back | 2:00 AM BST → 1:00 AM GMT | One hour repeated |
GMT versus BST
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is UTC+00:00 and is the UK’s winter clock. British Summer Time (BST) is UTC+01:00 and is used through the warmer months. London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast share these clock changes.
Why a UK–US meeting may shift
The US moved forward on March 8, 2026, three weeks before the UK. The UK moved back on October 25, while most of the US moved back on November 1. A weekly US–UK meeting can therefore shift by one hour for short periods even if neither participant changes their usual local meeting time.
Preparing for the autumn transition
During the October change, 1:00–1:59 a.m. happens twice in the UK. For a booking in that hour, record whether the time is BST or GMT, or use a UTC timestamp. Digital clocks normally adjust when their time zone is correctly set, but a manually set clock may need checking.
Frequently asked questions
Did UK clocks go back in October 2026?
Yes, the UK changed back to GMT on October 25, 2026.
Does Northern Ireland follow the same schedule?
Yes. Northern Ireland has the same seasonal UK clock as Great Britain.
When is the UK on GMT?
After the October autumn change until the March spring change, under the normal annual rules.
A useful way to write a UK appointment
Instead of saying “10 a.m. GMT” for a summertime call, write “10 a.m. London time on July 15, 2026.” London was observing BST on that date, which is UTC+01:00. Similarly, a London appointment on November 15, 2026 falls under GMT, UTC+00:00. This date-first approach works better in calendars that understand Europe/London and helps avoid the common one-hour mistake during the seasonal changeover.
For recurring international meetings, check the March and October transition weeks as well as the first week of November. Moving a clock in one country but not another temporarily changes the usual time difference. Calendar invitations created with Europe/London are less error-prone than invitations hard-coded to UTC+01:00 for the whole year.
Related time guides
These related guides answer adjacent questions without repeating the focus of this page:
What Time Is It in the UK? GMT, BST and London Time