Winter time begins tonight — clocks go back one hour
At 03:00 the clock will be turned back to 02:00; the government decision for 2026 was published on 19 March 2026.
Clocks in North Macedonia will be set back one hour tonight as the country switches from daylight saving time to winter time: at 03:00 the time will be counted as 02:00.
The government’s decision determining timekeeping for 2026 states that daylight saving time began on 29 March 2026 and that winter time starts on 25 October 2026. The decision was published in the Official Gazette on 19 March 2026.
"The adoption of this Decision is in line with the established annual practice for regulating timekeeping, as well as with the obligations to harmonize with European regulation in this area," the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources said.
Practical effects and advice
The immediate consequence is that analog clocks and any devices that are not set to update automatically must be moved one hour back before going to bed. Public timetables, electronic schedules and automated systems that follow coordinated time servers will adjust themselves in most cases.
Authorities point to the decision as a routine administrative measure intended to keep national timekeeping aligned with European rules and with the longstanding annual practice. Citizens should check transport and service schedules that may be affected by the change.
Photo: press material from the event
