March 2026: Daylight Saving Time Change and Shopping Sunday Schedule

The upcoming March 2026 will bring significant changes to the daily rhythm and shopping calendar for Poles. A key event will be the time change from standard to daylight saving time. It will occur overnight from Saturday, March 28, to Sunday, March 29. At 2:00, clock hands will be moved to 3:00, which in practice means shortening the night by one hour and potential disruptions to the circadian rhythm of millions of citizens. While this change allows for enjoying longer evenings, doctors and experts point to its negative impact on health, including an increased risk of cardiac incidents right after resetting the clocks. Parallel to time issues, March raises questions about the availability of retail outlets. The first Sunday of the month, falling on March 1, will be a non-shopping Sunday. This means most large stores and shopping malls will remain closed, and shopping will only be possible at points covered by statutory exceptions, such as gas stations or pharmacies. Importantly, the only shopping Sunday in March will fall precisely on March 29, the day of the time change. For consumers, this means the possibility of shopping without restrictions just before the upcoming Easter holidays. The tradition of changing time dates back to World War I, when Germany was the first country to introduce this mechanism in 1916 to save energy needed for war purposes. In Poland, the time change appeared for the first time in 1919 and permanently returned to our calendar in the 1970s.In the public sphere, the debate on expanding the catalog of statutory public holidays is also resurfacing. Petitions regarding the establishment of Good Friday as a public holiday have been submitted to the President's Chancellery. The proponents' argumentation is based on the reflective nature of this day in Christian tradition and the need to facilitate preparations for Easter, which in 2026 falls on April 5. Although the current list of public holidays is closed, this initiative has garnered public interest, forcing a reaction from political decision-makers. „Test showed that longer opening hours are popular. That is why we are increasing the number of stores open on Sunday afternoons.” — Head of the Okay City network informing about the popularity of Sunday shopping in Belgium. Meteorological forecasts for March indicate the beginning of the meteorological spring as early as March 1, but synopticians warn of temperature fluctuations typical for this period. Despite the inflow of warmer air masses, average temperatures may be below the long-term norm. Fruit growers and farmers are closely watching weather models, fearing frosts that may occur after periods of transitional warming.

Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media emphasize the health and economic costs of the time change, suggesting the need for its swift abolition by the EU. Conservative media focus on celebrating Easter and supporting the recognition of Good Friday as a public holiday.