Romania sets clocks back an hour to winter time at 04:00 on 25 October

When the switch happens

Romania moves from summer time to winter time in the night of 24 to 25 October 2026. At 04:00 on Sunday, 25 October, the clocks are to be set back 60 minutes, so that 04:00 reads 03:00. The country sits in the Eastern European time zone, moving from UTC+3 under summer time to UTC+2 on standard time. Sources say the change falls on the last Sunday of October, which is 25 October this year because the following Sunday already falls in November. Neighbouring countries make the same switch on the same day, and the 25-hour day is the longest calendar day of the year.

Trains, phones and clocks

Rail timetables stay as they are. Passenger trains that leave their starting stations after 04:00 will depart at the times in the current timetable, which follows Eastern European time. Trains already on the move after 04:00 will halt at their scheduled stations and wait until their new departure times, while trains close to their final stop will continue to it. International trains will run between border stations according to the existing timetable. Smartphones with automatic date and time settings, computers, smartwatches and smart TVs generally update on their own, while classic wrist and wall clocks, microwave ovens and some electric cookers must be set by hand.

Daylight and sleep

After the change, mornings will be lighter earlier and evenings will get dark sooner, measured on the clock. One Romanian report stresses that adjusting clocks does not shorten the amount of natural light, and that days keep getting shorter until the winter solstice regardless of the change. Specialists cited in the coverage warn that clock changes can cause temporary fatigue, drowsiness, lower performance at work and a higher risk of accidents. Children and older people may be most affected, and recovery time differs from person to person and can take several days. The extra hour of sleep on Sunday is theoretically available, but some people may still feel tired or find it hard to concentrate in the first days.

Why the change still happens

The European Commission proposed ending seasonal clock changes in September 2018. The European Parliament backed the end of the practice in March 2019, with a target of 2021. The reform was never finalised, because according to the Council of the EU it needs agreement from both institutions, so the existing system continues to apply in 2026. A Council note dated 3 June 2026 says a study on the effects of dropping the seasonal change was launched in February. The next switch to summer time is scheduled for 28 March 2027, when the clocks will be moved forward by one hour again.