Clocks Go Back One Hour in Portugal on Sunday 25 October

What happened

Clocks in mainland Portugal and the Portuguese islands will go back one hour in the early hours of Sunday, 25 October, marking the return to winter time. The change was reported by Time Out Lisboa on 20 October 2026.

The same report notes that the European Union continues to discuss ending the seasonal clock change, although no end to the practice has been confirmed.

Why it matters for international residents

If you have appointments, flights, ferries, trains or video calls scheduled around the changeover, it is worth double-checking the time you have written down. Portugal will be one hour behind what it was before the switch, which can also affect the time difference with family, clients and colleagues abroad.

Because the EU debate on abolishing the change is still ongoing, no final decision has been taken. For now, the practical reality is the same as in previous years: the clocks change, and daily life adjusts accordingly.

What to do next

• Adjust any manual clocks — watches, wall clocks, car clocks and appliances that do not update automatically.
• Check alarms and calendar entries for Sunday 25 October and the days immediately after, particularly early-morning commitments.
• Confirm travel times with operators if you are travelling on or around the changeover date.
• Recalculate the time difference with contacts outside Portugal before scheduling international calls or meetings.
• Note that smartphones and computers connected to the internet normally update automatically.

Sources

• Time Out Lisboa, "A hora muda no domingo (mas a UE continua a discutir o fim da mudança)", published 20 October 2026: https://www.timeout.pt/lisboa/pt/noticias/a-hora-muda-no-domingo-mas-a-ue-continua-a-discutir-o-fim-da-mudanca-102026

_This briefing is for general information only and is not legal, tax, medical, or immigration advice._