Heure D Hiver
In short
France will switch to winter time during the night of Saturday 24 to Sunday 25 October 2026. At 3:00 am, clocks will be set back one hour to 2:00 am.
In plain words
This is the period when clocks are turned back by one hour. It provides an extra hour of sleep during the transition. People must remember to manually adjust certain devices like ovens, microwaves, and car radios.
A simple example
If you go to bed at 11:00 pm on Saturday night, you will wake up at 7:00 am on Sunday, but you will have actually slept for eight hours instead of seven.
Why it matters
The change affects daily routines and can impact health and sleep patterns. While the European Union has discussed ending seasonal changes, the switch still occurs for many regions.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse this with daylight saving time (summer time), where clocks are moved forward.
Sources
- Le changement d'heure, c'est très bientôt : mais ces millions de Français n'auront pas à passer à l'heure d'hiver
- Santé Heure d’été, heure d’hiver, laquelle préserve le mieux notre santé ?
- Heure d’hiver : four, micro-ondes, voiture… les 5 appareils qu’il faut régler à la main
- Changement d'heure 2026 : quelle est la date du passage à l'heure d'hiver ? À quelle heure ?