Ireland's Clock Change for 2026: Get Ready for Earlier 8pm Sunsets

The clocks going forward marks the start of Daylight Saving Time, which means longer evenings and more daylight in the summer months As Ireland finds itself in the throes of winter, with chilly, dark mornings and early nights, many are longing for brighter evenings. Thankfully, they're on the horizon. For those who follow the astronomical calendar, Friday, March 20, heralds the first day of spring. The spring equinox signifies the gradual return of longer days, lighter evenings and, hopefully, a good dose of sunshine. Alongside the change in seasons comes another significant shift - time. At the end of March, clocks will spring forward by one hour, marking the start of Daylight Saving Time. This year, the clocks advance on Sunday, March 29, meaning the sun won't set until nearly 8pm - that's only 10 weeks away. From then on, evenings will continue to lengthen, reports the Irish Mirror. By April 18, sunset is expected around 8.30pm, and by the end of the month, it will be nearly 9pm. Interestingly, this year's clock change occurs a day earlier than in 2025. While last year saw the clocks go forward on March 30, this year we'll move them an hour ahead on March 29, giving us that extra daylight a bit sooner. For those with smartphones or smartwatches, on Sunday, March 29 at 1am, your device will automatically leap ahead to 2am, but decorative clocks will need to be manually adjusted. While the change means losing an hour of sleep, it also brings longer evenings to savour in the daylight. It's not just Ireland that will be basking in the additional daylight. All EU member states are set to do the same, as this seasonal adjustment was initially introduced to maximise natural light during Earth's orbit around the sun. In 2019, the European Union voted with the potential to put an end to Daylight Saving Time after 2021, following a survey indicating that most people would rather not alter their clocks biannually. However, due to the Covid pandemic, this decision has been postponed. EU institutions have yet to make headway on executing this decision, and the European Commission has stated it doesn't intend to present a new proposal on the issue to Parliament, implying that no changes to summer and winter time are anticipated in the foreseeable future. Later in the year, the clocks are scheduled to fall back one hour on Sunday, October 26. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .