March not only marks the beginning of spring. It also brings with it one of the most commented, and sometimes confusing, changes of the year: the time change.
This weekend, Spain leaves behind winter time and enters summer time. An adjustment that is repeated every year, but that continues to generate the same doubt in many people: does the clock go forward or back?
When does the time change in Spain?
The change always takes place on the last Sunday of March.
In 2026, it will take place during the early morning of Saturday, March 28 to Sunday, March 29. It is at that moment when it's time to adjust clocks, although most electronic devices do it automatically.
Does the clock move forward or back?
In March, the clock moves forward one hour.
This means that at 02:00 in the morning they will become 03:00, so that hour disappears. In practice, one sleeps an hour less.
It is the change that usually becomes more difficult, since it forces the body to adapt to a new schedule immediately.
What changes with daylight saving time
Beyond sleep, the change is noticed especially in the light.
During the first days, it will dawn later according to the clock, which may make mornings feel darker. However, sunsets will lengthen, leaving afternoons with more light and a feeling of longer days.
That is, precisely, the advantage that many people seek with this adjustment.
Why is the time changed?
The time change is applied in all the countries of the European Union for decades.
The original objective was to better utilize daylight hours and reduce energy consumption, especially in contexts such as the oil crisis of the 70s. Since then, the system of two changes per year has been maintained: one in March and another in October.
However, nowadays that benefit is increasingly questioned.
How it affects the body
Various experts, such as those from the Spanish Sleep Society, have been warning for years that this adjustment is not neutral for the body.
During the first days, symptoms such as may appear:
- fatigue
- difficulty concentrating
- irritability
- problems sleeping
In most cases, the body adapts in a few days, but the impact exists.
Is the time change going to be eliminated?
It is a possibility that has been for years on the table, but without a definitive decision.
In 2018, the European Commission proposed eliminating daylight saving time, but the lack of agreement among countries has been delaying the measure. In Spain, a commission of experts was even created in 2019, although a clear conclusion was not reached either.
For the moment, the system remains in force.
Upcoming time changes in Spain
According to the current calendar:
🗓️ March 29, 2026 (daylight saving time)
🗓️ October 25, 2026 (winter time)
Although there is debate about its future, there is no official date for its elimination.
