Changement d’heure 2026: What You Need to Know

As the days grow longer after a long, grey winter, it’s time to prepare to adjust your clocks. In 2026, the traditional daylight saving time change will mean losing an hour of sleep. Mark your calendars: in the early hours of March 8th, 2026, at 2:00 AM, Quebec will spring forward to Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), which is four hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-4).

A Province of Many Times

However, the change isn’t uniform across the entire province. The Lower North Shore already operates on EDT year-round (UTC-4), aligning with Atlantic Standard Time. Other regions, such as the Magdalen Islands and Listuguj in Gaspésie, maintain different time schedules than the rest of Quebec. This historical quirk dates back to the 1940s when Quebec initially adopted daylight saving time to conserve energy, particularly lighting, in specific sectors.

Provincial and National Trends

Quebec isn’t alone in navigating the complexities of daylight saving time. Several Canadian provinces have already decided to opt-out of the biannual time changes. The Yukon, Saskatchewan, and parts of British Columbia no longer participate. This growing trend reflects a debate about the benefits and drawbacks of altering our clocks twice a year.

Fall Back to Normal

The return to Standard Time will occur on the chilly night of Halloween, between October 31st and November 1st, 2026, at 2:00 AM. This is when you’ll gain an hour of sleep, returning to Eastern Standard Time (EST), or UTC-5.

Understanding these changes is crucial for scheduling, travel, and simply adjusting to the rhythm of the year. Stay informed and prepare to adjust your clocks accordingly!

For more information on time zones and daylight saving time, you can visit Time and Date and Government of Canada.