Quick answer
Daylight saving started on Sunday 4 October 2026 and ends on Sunday 4 April 2027. It applies in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT. Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not change their clocks. Clocks go forward one hour at 2am when it starts and back one hour at 3am when it ends.
When does daylight saving start and end?
| Season | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| 2026–27 | Sun 4 Oct 2026 (2am clocks forward to 3am) | Sun 4 Apr 2027 (3am clocks back to 2am) |
| 2027–28 | Sun 3 Oct 2027 (2am clocks forward to 3am) | Sun 2 Apr 2028 (3am clocks back to 2am) |
Daylight saving starts on the first Sunday in October and ends on the first Sunday in April. The 2028 end date follows that rule.
Which states have daylight saving?
- Daylight saving: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.
- No daylight saving: Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
- Lord Howe Island moves its clocks by 30 minutes rather than a full hour.
What time is it in each capital during daylight saving?
| Capital | Time zone during daylight saving | Time zone the rest of the year |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart | AEDT (UTC+11) | AEST (UTC+10) |
| Adelaide | ACDT (UTC+10:30) | ACST (UTC+9:30) |
| Brisbane | AEST (UTC+10), no change | AEST (UTC+10) |
| Darwin | ACST (UTC+9:30), no change | ACST (UTC+9:30) |
| Perth | AWST (UTC+8), no change | AWST (UTC+8) |
During daylight saving, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart are one hour ahead of Brisbane.
Does daylight saving affect school terms?
School terms and holidays use local time and do not change. The spring school holidays in late September and early October sit right around the October start. See the September school holidays and the October school holidays.
How many days until daylight saving ends?
Counting down...
The countdown runs to the first Sunday in April, when clocks go back in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT.
Frequently asked questions
When do the clocks go back in 2027?
At 3am on Sunday 4 April 2027, clocks in the states with daylight saving go back to 2am.
When does daylight saving start in 2027?
At 2am on Sunday 3 October 2027, clocks go forward to 3am.
Why doesn't Queensland have daylight saving?
Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory each stay on standard time all year.
Is the October long weekend near the start of daylight saving?
In 2027 the October long weekend is Saturday 2 to Monday 4 October in some states, so daylight saving starts in the middle of it, at 2am on Sunday 3 October. See the October long weekend page.
More dates
Public holidays 2027 · School holidays 2027 · Australia calendar 2027