Winter time begins Sunday — clocks move back one hour

Winter (standard) time in North Macedonia will begin overnight on Sunday, 25 October 2026, when clocks are set back one hour. At 03:00 the timepiece will be moved to 02:00, giving residents an extra hour.

“Daylight saving time ends on 25 October 2026 at 03:00,” reads the official statement from the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources. The change was adopted by a government decision on the country’s timekeeping for 2026.

How the change was formalised and what it means

The decision establishing this schedule was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia, No. 58 of 19 March 2026. Daylight saving time began earlier in the year on 29 March, when clocks were advanced by one hour.

The switch will take place during the night between Saturday and Sunday, so people with early-morning commitments are advised to factor the new time into their plans. Devices such as mobile phones and computers that update automatically should adjust themselves; manual watches and appliances without automatic updates must be set by hand.

Although the move back grants one additional hour by local time, it can temporarily disrupt sleep and morning routines. Authorities recommend checking alarms, travel arrangements and other plans scheduled for early Sunday to avoid surprises.

Photo: press material from the event