Israel Shifts to Winter Time Sunday, Clocks Fall Back One Hour

Israel will end its daylight saving time on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 2:00 AM, when clocks will be set back one hour to 1:00 AM. This change means the night between Saturday and Sunday will be an hour longer, and Sunday will begin under winter time, which is two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) instead of three. The timing is not an annual decision but is dictated by the 1992 Time Measurement Law, which stipulates daylight saving time runs from the Friday before the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October. The most noticeable effect will be earlier sunsets. For example, in Nazareth, sunrise on Saturday is at 6:49 AM and sunset at 5:55 PM. By Monday, October 26, sunrise will be around 5:51 AM and sunset around 4:53 PM, making it dark nearly an hour earlier than in previous weeks. While mornings will be lighter for those heading out before 7:00 AM, drivers returning home in the afternoon will face darkness sooner, prompting a reminder to check car lights before winter intensifies. Most smartphones and computers with automatic time settings will update themselves. However, manual adjustments will be needed for wall clocks, wristwatches, car clocks, kitchen ovens, and lighting or irrigation timers. It is advisable to make these changes before sleeping on Saturday night to avoid being late. For those working night shifts, the hour between 1:00 AM and 2:00 AM will occur twice, and employees should clarify with their employers how this will affect their work hours. Public interest in the time change was evident, with "When do we move the clock to winter time" trending on Google searches in Israel on Friday. Winter time will remain in effect until the Friday before the last Sunday in March 2027, when clocks will advance again according to the same law.