🇫🇷 When Do the Clocks Change in France?
Oct 25
Sunday, October 25, 2026 - clocks go back 1 hour (fall back).
At 3:00 AM CEST, clocks go back to 2:00 AM CET. You get an extra hour of sleep.
France clock changes - 2026 and 2027
| Year | Clocks go forward | Clocks go back |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday, March 29, 2026 At 2:00 AM CET, clocks jump forward to 3:00 AM CEST. | Sunday, October 25, 2026 At 3:00 AM CEST, clocks go back to 2:00 AM CET. |
| 2027 | Sunday, March 28, 2027 At 2:00 AM CET, clocks jump forward to 3:00 AM CEST. | Sunday, October 31, 2027 At 3:00 AM CEST, clocks go back to 2:00 AM CET. |
Times are local. 2027 dates follow the current rules.
Where the clocks change
Metropolitan France changes with the rest of the EU. Overseas departments and territories such as Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion and French Guiana do not change their clocks; Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon follows the North American dates.
The rule
France follows the EU summer-time rule (heure d'été): clocks go forward from 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM on the last Sunday in March and back from 3:00 AM to 2:00 AM on the last Sunday in October.
Common questions
When do the clocks go back in France in 2026?
Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 3:00 AM CEST, when clocks go back to 2:00 AM CET.
When do the clocks go forward in France in 2027?
Sunday, March 28, 2027 at 2:00 AM CET, when clocks go forward to 3:00 AM CEST.
Is France changing at the same time as the UK?
Yes, at the same moment. The UK is one hour behind, so the local clock time of the change is one hour earlier there.
Sources
Reference data reviewed September 25, 2026. Times computed from the IANA Time Zone Database, release 2026c.