Sunita Somvanshi
US clocks fall back one hour on November 1, 2026, at 2 a.m. local time — which becomes 1 a.m. Daylight saving time has not been made permanent, and the 2026 schedule follows the existing federal framework. Here's what changes, what stays the same, and where the permanent DST debate actually stands.
In the United States, clocks move back one hour on the first Sunday of November. In 2026, that's November 1. At 2 a.m., clocks return to 1 a.m. standard time. Sunrise moves earlier; sunset also moves earlier. The change applies to states observing daylight saving time under the federal Uniform Time Act, including Alabama and most other US states. Hawaii and most of Arizona don't observe DST and are unaffected by the November change.
The practical effect is one hour of shifted daylight, not a loss of total daylight hours. Morning light increases in the weeks after the transition; evening darkness arrives earlier than it did during summer.
Why Permanent DST Hasn't Happened
Multiple US states have passed legislation to stay on permanent daylight saving time, but those laws cannot take effect without an amendment to the federal Uniform Time Act. Congress has not passed the Sunshine Protection Act or equivalent permanent DST legislation, despite it being introduced repeatedly. States can, by contrast, opt into permanent standard time without federal approval — no act of Congress required.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recommended permanent standard time, arguing it is more closely aligned with natural light cycles and human circadian rhythms.
Despite dozens of state bills, none can deliver permanent daylight saving time until Congress acts. Permanent standard time requires no federal change. That asymmetry is why state-level DST momentum has stalled without producing a result.
The 2026 fall-back on November 1 is confirmed under existing law. No federal change has been enacted that alters the November 1, 2026 schedule. Clocks fall back November 1.
