Poland Switches to Summer Time: Experts Warn of Health Risks and Circadian Disruption

Poland will move its clocks forward by one hour on the night of Saturday, March 28 to Sunday, March 29, 2026, with the transition from winter to summer time taking effect at 2:00 a.m., when clocks will jump to 3:00 a.m. The change, which applies across the European Union simultaneously, means millions of Poles will lose one hour of sleep overnight. Most modern electronic devices, including smartphones, laptops, and smartwatches, will adjust automatically, but owners of traditional wall clocks, analog watches, ovens, and microwave ovens will need to make the change manually. The next return to winter time is scheduled for the night of October 24 to 25, 2026.

Health experts flag cardiac risk in days ahead Cardiologists have renewed warnings that the spring time change carries measurable health risks, particularly for older adults. According to reporting by forsal.pl, scientists warn that on Monday and Tuesday immediately following the change there is a statistical increase in the number of heart attacks and strokes, especially among people over 65 (years of age) — age threshold for elevated cardiac risk after time change. The disruption to sleep shortens melatonin and cortisol secretion cycles, leading to temporary insomnia, irritability, and concentration problems. Seniors taking blood pressure medication at fixed morning hours are advised to consult a doctor or gradually shift their medication schedule over several days to avoid sudden spikes in blood pressure. For workers on duty during the night of the change — in sectors such as security, healthcare, or transport — the Labour Code stipulates that employers must pay remuneration only for time actually worked, meaning an employee on a standard shift will be paid for one hour fewer than usual, unless the employer arranges a make-up arrangement or classifies the shortfall as downtime.

Expert calls summer time "artificial shift" for Poland Dr. Aleksandra Karykowska from the Department of Anthropology at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences argues that daylight saving time is fundamentally misaligned with Poland's geographical position. According to reporting by Gazeta Lubuska, the expert states that Poland's natural time is GMT+1, corresponding to winter time, and that switching to GMT+2 amounts to an artificial eastward displacement of thousands of kilometers. „Geography does not lie. This is the natural location of our country and it is adapted to winter time, so remaining on daylight saving time (GMT+2) means an artificial shift of thousands of kilometers to the east” — Aleksandra Karykowska via Gazeta Lubuska Dr. Karykowska also points to what she calls "social jet lag," a chronic misalignment between biological rhythms and social schedules, and notes that experiments with permanent summer time conducted by Russia and the United States in 2011 resulted in increased morning accidents, as children traveled to school in darkness during winter months. She argues that permanent winter time would ensure bright mornings, which are critical for clearing melatonin from the body and regulating the daily biological cycle.

Legislative push may end seasonal changes, but no deal yet Poland's government is currently considering a draft amendment to regulations governing official time that could, if adopted in autumn 2026, eliminate the need for future clock changes. According to Express Ilustrowany, the proposal would require EU consent before it could take effect, and no final decision has been reached at the European level. Discussions about abolishing seasonal time changes within the EU began before the COVID-19 pandemic but stalled when the pandemic interrupted legislative work. A poll cited by Gazeta Krakowska found that nearly 80 percent of Poles would prefer not to adjust their clocks at all, while Gazeta Lubuska reported that 75 percent of Poles would prefer to keep summer time permanently — a preference that stands in direct tension with the scientific advice favoring permanent winter time. The current system has been continuously in force in Poland since 1977, with the country having previously applied time changes in 1919 and again between 1946 and 1964, according to Gazeta Krakowska. Poland first introduced a time change in 1919, then applied it in the periods 1946–1949 and 1957–1964, before the system became permanent in 1977, according to Gazeta Krakowska. Germany was the first country to introduce seasonal time changes, doing so in 1916, as reported by Gazeta Współczesna. Until 1995, Poland switched to winter time on the last Sunday of September rather than October. The time change system was originally introduced across Europe primarily to extend the use of daylight and reduce electricity consumption.

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