When does daylight saving time start?

A direct-answer guide to when daylight saving time starts and how that varies by country and region.

Answer first

Daylight saving time start dates depend on the local jurisdiction; there is no single worldwide start date.

A city enters daylight saving time only when its local civil-time rules say it does. Many places never observe it, and places that do can change on different dates.

Check the specific city or time zone before scheduling a recurring event. The important effect is that the local offset from UTC may move, usually by one hour.

Worldwide start date

None

Typical clock change

Forward by 1 hour

Best scheduling reference

The city’s IANA time zone

Why start dates differ

Daylight saving time is set by local law and policy, not by a global clock rule. Neighboring countries, regions, and even territories can follow different calendars or choose not to change clocks at all.

That is why a fixed time difference can change for several weeks when one location has moved its clock and another has not.

How to plan around a clock change

For a one-time event, confirm the converted local time shortly before the event. For a recurring event, decide whether it is fixed to UTC or fixed to a local civil time and state that rule in the invitation.

Use a named IANA time zone instead of a bare UTC offset.
Check both locations when a meeting crosses borders.
Reconfirm recurring schedules near a local clock change.

Frequently asked questions

Does every country start daylight saving time on the same day?

No. Start dates and observance rules are local, and many places do not observe daylight saving time at all.

Does a DST start change UTC?

No. UTC stays fixed; the local civil-time offset changes.