France time change 2026: clocks move forward in March

The time change is just around the corner.

In France, the clocks change twice a year, prompting the same recurring question: “Do we get an extra hour of sleep or lose an hour?”

As the switch to winter time, scheduled for the night of Saturday 28 to Sunday 29 March 2026, approaches, it is worth remembering that watches and clocks must be put forward by one hour. In other words, when the clock reaches 2 am, it will actually be 3 am, meaning you will lose an hour’s sleep. This is unwelcome news for anyone fond of a lie-in, although the trade-off will be more daylight in the evening. There is good news for people with a smartphone or smartwatch: by default, these devices update automatically.

An extra hour of sleep

France introduced this clock-change system following the 1973–1974 oil crisis, originally to save energy. By aligning daylight hours more closely with people’s daily activities, it was intended to cut electricity use, which at the time was mainly generated using oil. The dates have been standardised across Europe since 1998. However, energy consumption patterns have changed since the 1970s and 1980s, making the system increasingly controversial.

Energy and health concerns around the time change

Criticism of the clock change primarily focuses on its current lack of energy efficiency and its harmful effects on health. Studies have shown that the practice may disrupt sleep, affect mood and even lead to an increase in cardiovascular incidents. Children and older people are comparatively vulnerable to these changes because their biological rhythms are more rigid.

The unresolved European debate

In 2018, the European Commission held a public consultation which found that 84% of respondents supported ending the clock change. European Parliament members then voted to abolish it in March 2019. However, implementation of that decision was postponed, notably because of the Covid-19 crisis, and it is no longer currently on the agenda. Ultimately, the matter remains far from settled, and a final decision on this issue-which divides many European citizens-will probably take many more years.

What about you: do you favour summer time or winter time? Feel free to share your views in the comments.