The Costa Blanca may still be clinging to warm afternoons, but there is one unmistakable sign that winter is approaching: the clocks are about to change again.
Spain switches back to winter time in the early hours of Sunday 25 October 2026.
And this is the good clock change. At 03:00 on mainland Spain, the clocks go back to 02:00, giving us a 25-hour Sunday and, for those without an early appointment, an extra hour in bed.
When do the clocks go back in Spain?
The change happens in the early hours of Sunday 25 October.
At 03:00 on the Costa Blanca and the rest of mainland Spain, clocks move backwards one hour to 02:00.
The Canary Islands make the change an hour earlier. At 02:00 there, clocks return to 01:00.
Most smartphones, computers, smartwatches and other connected devices should update themselves automatically.
The things most likely to catch you out are the less intelligent members of the household: the oven, microwave, wall clock and possibly the car.
What does it mean on the Costa Blanca?
The immediate bonus is an extra hour overnight.
The trade-off arrives on Sunday evening, when darkness comes noticeably earlier.
Spain’s October change marks the end of daylight saving time and the return to standard winter time. Mainland Spain moves from Central European Summer Time to Central European Time.
If you have a flight, train, coach journey or other appointment that Sunday morning, it is worth checking that any clock you rely on has actually changed.
Weren’t we supposed to stop changing the clocks?
You could be forgiven for thinking so.
The European Union has spent years discussing whether to abandon the twice-yearly clock change, following a 2018 public consultation in which more than 80% of the 4.6 million participants supported ending it.
In fact, the European Commission has now published the daylight-saving timetable for 2027 to 2031. That means anyone hoping 2026 might be the final autumn clock change is out of luck.
When will the clocks change again?
Enjoy that extra hour because Spain will ask for it back next spring.
Under the current system, summer time begins on the last Sunday in March. The clocks move forward by one hour, making that particular Sunday just 23 hours long.
For now, though, October is the kinder of Spain’s two annual encounters with the clock.
Just remember to change the oven before spending Monday morning wondering why breakfast appears to be running an hour late.
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- Spain’s clocks go back on Sunday 25 October 2026.
- On the Costa Blanca, 03:00 becomes 02:00.
- Sunday therefore lasts 25 hours.
- Smartphones and other connected devices should change automatically.
- Check manual clocks in cars, ovens, microwaves and around the house.
- Evenings will become darker earlier after the change.
- Spain is still continuing with the twice-yearly clock change.
- The EU has already published clock-change dates through to 2031.
Let Bridging the Gap help you navigate through more Costa Blanca Red Tape.
