When do they change the clocks in Ukraine in March 2026

In March 2026, Ukrainians will once again switch to summer time. The clock change will take place according to the current rules that have been in effect for almost three decades. This is reported by RBK-Ukraine.

Clock change Ukraine 2026: date and exact time

According to the Cabinet of Ministers decree No. 509, the transition to summer time occurs on the last Sunday of March.

In 2026, this is:

• the night of March 28 to March 29

• at 03:00

• the hands need to be moved forward by one hour

Thus, the night will be shorter, and Ukrainians will sleep one hour less.

Summer time Ukraine: how will transport work and will the transition be canceled

The transition to summer time will not affect the operation of the infrastructure - all systems will continue to function according to Kyiv time.

This concerns:

• rail transport

• air transport

• intercity buses

• communications and telecommunications.

At the same time, the question of canceling the clock change remains open. In 2024, the Verkhovna Rada supported a bill to switch to permanent winter time.

However, the document has not yet entered into force as it has not been signed by the president. Therefore, Ukraine continues to operate under the current seasonal time change system.

The tradition of changing time in Ukraine has been in place since 1996 and is aimed, among other things, at optimizing daylight use. Despite discussions about its appropriateness, the order remains unchanged in 2026.

It is worth reminding that in 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine decided to cancel seasonal clock changes and maintain permanent winter time, which was planned to be called unified Kyiv time. The bill, aimed at freeing the country from the need to change clocks twice a year, remains unsigned by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.