Nicosia: Summer time period will begin in the morning hours of Sunday as clocks will go forward one hour.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry announced that Cyprus will start its summer time period for 2026 at 03:00 am, local time, on Sunday, March 29. Clocks will be moved forward by one hour to mark the commencement of daylight saving time, which will conclude on Sunday, October 25, 2026. This change will be in effect across all European Union countries.
The history of daylight saving time in Cyprus dates back to 1976. It was first introduced by a decision from the Council of Ministers. In a press release from February 1976, the Ministry of Commerce noted that this initiative was part of efforts to mitigate the impact of the energy crisis by aligning work and movement with daylight hours. The goal was to reduce energy consumption across various sectors.
The practice of adjusting clocks in spring and autumn is a long-standing one in Europe, originating before the formation of the European Union. This measure was initially implemented during the First World War to conserve energy and reintroduced in the 1970s. In 1980, the EU legislated on summer-time arrangements to harmonize national practices and facilitate the single market's smooth operation. The current directive, effective since 2001, mandates that all member states switch to summer time on the last Sunday in March and revert to standard time on the last Sunday in October.
A proposal to abolish the biannual clock changes within the European Union was presented in 2018. The European Commission drafted a directive on September 12, 2018, aiming to end daylight saving time across the EU and to establish a notification system for countries wishing to alter their standard time. However, no final decision or timeline has been established, so the existing system remains in effect, continuing the tradition of extending daylight hours in the summer months.