As we enter the new year in California, daylight is still quite limited as the sun continues to go down just after 5 p.m. Even though March feels far off, knowing how the light will shift can help you plan everything from after-work activities to commutes and weekend getaways.
Here’s a quick look ahead at 2026, including this year’s Daylight Saving start and end dates, plus some general sunrise and sunset times throughout the year.
When does Daylight Saving Time begin and end in 2026?
In the United States, DST starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.
Here are the 2026 dates for Daylight Saving Time:
- Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 8th, 2026 at 2 a.m. The clocks are set forward by 1 hour to 3 a.m.
- Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 1st, 2026 at 2 a.m. The clocks are set backward 1 hour to 1 a.m.
Most of the United States follows DST except for Hawaii and most of Arizona. Globally, many parts of Europe, the Middle East, and parts of South America and Oceania also observe Daylight Saving Time, while most of Africa and Asia do not.
When will we finally have later sunsets?
In Los Angeles, shifting sunrise and sunset times create short winter days and longer summer evenings.
In early January, the sun rises around 7 a.m. and sets just after 5 p.m. With the arrival of DST in March, the sun will set closer to 7 p.m., and by the summer equinox in late June, Angelenos enjoy pre-6 a.m. sunrises and 8p.m. sunsets.
By late September, days will have become shorter, with sunrises closer to 7 a.m. and sunsets around 7 p.m. After the end of DST in November, we’ll be back to earlier sunsets, reaching 5 p.m. or so around the winter equinox in December.