The key facts
- On October 25, 2026, Russia does not change its clocks — seasonal time changes have been abolished since 2011; Article 4 of the law “On the Calculation of Time” is in effect
- In Germany, France, Italy, and mainland Spain, clocks will be turned from 03:00 to 02:00, in Greece from 04:00 to 03:00, in the United Kingdom from 02:00 to 01:00
- The USA will switch to winter time on November 1, 2026, except for Hawaii and most of Arizona
Russia stays on permanent time
On October 25, 2026, there is no need to change clocks in Russia. Seasonal time changes are not carried out in the country, which is enshrined in Article 4 of the law “On the Calculation of Time.” The rule applies in all regions, including the Saratov, Volgograd, Ulyanovsk, and Samara regions, as well as Perm Krai. Moscow will remain in the UTC+3 time zone, and other regions will keep their established zones, so the difference between Russian cities will not change due to the European clock change.
Who turns their clocks on October 25
In Germany, France, Italy, and mainland Spain, clocks will be turned from 03:00 to 02:00 local time. In Greece — from 04:00 to 03:00, in the United Kingdom — from 02:00 to 01:00. Turkey does not change its time and lives on UTC+3 year-round, like Moscow. In the USA, the switch to winter time will take place later, on November 1, 2026; however, in Hawaii and most of Arizona there is no seasonal time change.
How the difference with Moscow will change
Before the change, Moscow is one hour ahead of Berlin, Paris, and Rome, and two hours ahead of London. After October 25, the difference will increase: with European capitals it will be two hours, with London — three. The time in Athens matches Moscow’s before the change; afterward, Moscow will be one hour ahead of the Greek capital. With Istanbul, there will be no difference either before or after October 25. Moscow and New York are currently separated by seven hours; after October 25 the difference will remain, and on November 1, when clocks are changed in New York, it will increase to eight hours.
Practical points for travelers
Domestic flights in Russia are not shifted due to the clock change. In international tickets, departure and arrival are indicated in the local time of each airport — there is no need to add or subtract an hour yourself. For example, the departure time from Istanbul is read by Istanbul time, and the arrival in Paris by Paris time. The publication recommends checking the schedule with the carrier, especially when making connections, and verifying bookings and notifications about changes. A smartphone with automatic date, time, and time zone settings enabled will adjust the time itself; in Russia, a properly configured phone will continue showing the usual time on October 25.
Background
In 2011, Russia stopped changing its clocks twice a year: after the spring transition, the country remained on summer time. On October 26, 2014, most regions turned their clocks back — Moscow moved from UTC+4 to UTC+3, but that was a change of permanent time, not a return to seasonal clock changes. Under the current law, seasonal clock changes are not provided for in 2027 either, unless the rules are changed. In the EU, a proposal to abandon seasonal clock changes has been discussed since 2018, but no final decision has been made.
