Your Guide to Clock Changes this Fall
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Clocks in Cuba will not be set back 1 hour as planned on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
Cuba has canceled this year’s fall clock change and will keep Daylight Saving Time (DST) until Nov 7, 2027, to ease power shortages. School and work will start 30 minutes later this winter to compensate for darker mornings.
Cuba’s next clock change in detailResponse to Electricity Crisis
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM) and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS) announced the decision in a joint information note.
The official statement attributes the decision to the electricity crisis affecting the island nation. It says the shortage of fuel for power generation is caused by the U.S. embargo.
Later Start for School and Work
Cuba normally alternates between standard time (UTC−5) and DST (UTC−4) each year.
By keeping DST through the winter, sunrises in Cuba will come about an hour later by the clock than they would on standard time.
To make up for the darker mornings, the start of school and work will be delayed by 30 minutes from November 1, 2026, to March 14, 2027. Some workplaces may adjust their schedules according to operational needs.
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When Will Cuba Return to Standard Time?
As it stands now, Cuba’s next clock change will take place on November 7, 2027, when clocks go back 1 hour, and the country returns to standard time.
However, since this is a government decision responding to an ongoing electricity crisis, the schedule could be revised again.
History of DST in Cuba
Daylight Saving Time was first used in Cuba in 1928, but it was not observed again until 1940. After World War II, Cuba stopped observing DST, before reintroducing it in 1965.
From March 2004 to October 2006, Cuba stayed on Daylight Saving Time year-round. Between 2007 and 2025, clocks were moved between standard time and DST every year.
The 2026-2027 decision is the first time since 2006 that Cuba is skipping a fall clock change.
Frequently Asked DST Questions
What is DST?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward during part of the year to make better use of natural daylight. Changing the clocks does not create extra daylight, but it shifts civil time in relation to solar time. In other words, sunrise and sunset happen an hour later, on the clock, when DST is in effect.
Is Summer Time the same as DST?
Saying “summer time” instead of Daylight Saving Time (DST) is common in many countries, like the United Kingdom. The term winter time is sometimes used instead of standard time, which is the official name for the period without DST.
Is DST bad for your health?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) can mess with our body clock and can trigger underlying health issues. This time change can cause disruptions to our body clock, otherwise known as the circadian rhythm.