When does daylight saving start in Australia in 2026?

For much of Australia, it is unofficial launch into the swimming months – and a sign that summer is just around the corner.

In 2026, Sunday October 4 marks the official start of daylight saving time for people in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), New South Wales (NSW), South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not participate in daylight savings, mostly because the broader distance between their southern and northern latitudes would result in very different experiences for those that live there.

Those states that do observe daylight saving time will then revert to AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) when daylight saving ends on Sunday April 4, 2027.

Here is everything you need to know about daylight saving and how to change your clocks in Australia.

Do we gain or lose an hour in Australia?

If you do live in a state that observes daylight saving, at 2am on Sunday October 4 clocks will jump forward by one hour to 3am AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time). That means your alarm goes off one hour sooner.

How do clocks change for the start of daylight savings?

These days, most smartphones, computers and digital devices will automatically adjust the time for you.

Analogue clocks and watches, as well as some older digital devices (such as the clock in your car), will need to be changed manually, in which case, you want to set them forward one hour.

Don’t forget to scour the house for appliances with clocks, such as microwaves, that need to be set forward an hour, too.

Some households prefer to change their clocks the night before daylight saving takes effect (October 3), thereby kick-starting the day and avoiding any timing issues.

Do I gain or lose an hour of sleep when daylight saving starts?

If you’re not a morning person, maybe look away – you’re going to get up an hour earlier than you would have otherwise when daylight saving starts!

For parents of little ones, the daylight saving period can often coincide with a difficult bedtime routine, putting your children to bed while the sun is still up.

Days will continue to get longer as we move towards the summer solstice on Tuesday, December 22, 2026 (the longest day of the year). This is when the Earth tilts its southern axis closest to the sun, peaking its path across the sky.

Why does daylight savings time end on April 4 in Australia?

Daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday of April in Australia each year, for those jurisdictions that observe it. For 2027, that means daylight saving time will end on Sunday April 4.

Why does daylight saving begin and end on a Sunday in Australia?

There’s no official reason, although the assumption is Sunday is a less disruptive day for businesses, schools and families (you don’t want half the nation running late for work!).

What is the best way to adjust to the time difference?

While you do lose an hour’s sleep on the night the clocks go forward to reflect daylight saving, there are some small measures you can introduce to make the change less impactful.

Experts recommend gradual bedtime changes, such as adjusting your bedtime by 15 minutes each evening before the change to assist with the transition. Sticking to a consistent sleep schedule in the days after the daylight saving change can also help avoid disruption.

Another tip is to maximise morning light, since this can naturally assist with resetting your body clock.

Is daylight saving time different in other countries?

It certainly is. If you’re planning a northern hemisphere trip, keep in mind that daylight saving starts and ends on different dates depending on where you land.

In the US, clocks spring forward on the second Sunday in March and don’t fall back until the first Sunday in November.

Over in the UK, the shift comes a little later, with daylight saving beginning on the last Sunday in March and wrapping up on the last Sunday in October.

Which Australian states observe daylight saving time?

There are five Australian states and territories that observe daylight saving time: the ACT, NSW, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

People in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia don’t observe daylight saving time – much to the delight of many farmers.

Is it ‘daylight saving’ or ‘daylight savings’?

Although you’ll hear many people say ‘daylight savings’, the correct term is ‘daylight saving’. That’s because the purpose of observing this time change each year is saving daylight (not savings daylight).