This weekend, households across France will once again reset their ovens and wind back their watches. On the night of Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, October 25, the country shifts to winter time. At 3 a.m., clocks will turn back to 2 a.m.
While this ritual—introduced after the 1973-1974 oil shock to save energy—occurs each year at roughly the same period, it is rare for it to fall so early.
A Pattern That Has Shifted in Recent Years
The transition to winter time has taken place on October 26 in 2025, October 27 in 2024, October 29 in 2023, and October 30 in 2022. This year’s early date stands out from that recent pattern.
An EU-Wide Rule Sets the Date
So why does the change occur so early this year? The answer lies in the European Union’s regulation on time changes. Since 1998, all EU member states have harmonized their transition dates: the switch to winter time takes place on the last Sunday of October, and the switch to summer time on the last Sunday of March.
This year, however, the last day of October falls on a Saturday. As a result, the change to winter time comes slightly earlier than in previous years. As Le Parisien noted, this configuration has occurred before—in 2015 and 2020—but remains rare: the next time winter time will arrive this early in October will not be until 2037.
A Long Wait for Longer Evenings
For those already eager for the return of summer time and its longer, brighter evenings, patience will be required. The next switch to summer time is not scheduled until the night of Saturday, March 27 to Sunday, March 28, 2027.
Safety Reminder as Darkness Falls Earlier
With the shift to winter time, French road safety authorities are urging cyclists and pedestrians to exercise caution, as reduced daylight hours increase visibility risks during commutes.
