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Ahh, we’ve officially made it out of winter. Across much of Australia, the days are warming up, the evenings are stretching out and life is starting to feel that extra bit sunnier. Even brighter days are ahead too, with daylight savings starting next month for those in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT (sorry to our friends in the NT, QLD and WA).
Wondering how much longer you have to wait for that extra hour of evening sunlight? Here’s everything you need to know about the start of daylight savings in Australia, including when to turn your clocks forward. And yes, we know it’s technically ‘daylight saving’ – but let’s be real, most of us add an ‘s’ on the end in everyday conversation, so don't come at us.
When does daylight savings start in Australia in 2026?
Daylight savings kicks off on the first Sunday of October at 2am local time. In 2026, this falls on Sunday, October 4 – so you'll lose an hour of sleep that night when our clocks wind forward, with 2am AEST turning into 3am AEDT. However, we’d trade losing an hour of sleep for an extra hour of evening sunlight any day of the week. Bring on the post-work swims and sunset picnics!
What is daylight savings?
Daylight savings was first introduced in 1916 to save energy during World War I and II. By shifting the clock forward an hour, soldiers could take advantage of longer sunlight hours and increase productivity. While all Australian states and territories observed daylight savings during the wars, Tasmania made it a permanent fixture in 1968. New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT followed suit in 1971.
When to change the clocks for daylight savings?
Your smartphone will surely do the job for you, but if you still use an old-school alarm or need to reset your grandfather clock, remember to move your analogue clocks and watches forward by one hour on Sunday, October 4. We’d suggest doing it the night before so you’re not late for your Sunday morning coffee date.
Which Australian states use daylight savings?
Daylight savings is observed in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and Norfolk Island. However, Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands don’t change their clocks for daylight savings. Keep this in mind if you’re hopping between states or planning a FaceTime with an interstate mate.
How does daylight savings affect time zones in Australia?
Some Australian time zones have a different UTC offset and time zone name for daylight savings time (DST), including:
- Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT) – UTC +10.30 (SA)
- Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) – UTC +11 (ACT, NSW, VIC, TAS)
- Lord Howe Daylight Time (LHDT) – UTC +11 (Lord Howe Island)
When does daylight savings end in Australia in 2027?
Daylight savings ends on Sunday, April 4, 2027, gifting you an extra hour of sleep as our clocks wind back one hour.