Austria Drops Daylight Saving Time, Stays on Standard Time From October 26, 2025
Austria is set to revert to standard time in the early hours of October 26, 2025, marking the end of daylight saving time for the foreseeable future. This move aligns with a European Union proposal to abolish the bi-annual clock change, approved by the EU Parliament in 2019.
The switch to standard time, which will occur at 3:00 AM on the specified date, means Austrians will gain an extra hour of sleep but will also experience earlier sunsets. This change aims to minimise disruption to people's daily lives, traffic, and businesses, as the assumption is that adjusting the clock in the middle of the night affects the fewest individuals.
Historically, Austria has experimented with summer time during World War I and again from 1940 to 1948. More recently, it adopted summer time in 1979 for administrative reasons and to harmonise traffic with Switzerland and Germany, following the introduction of daylight saving time in Europe in 1973 due to the oil crisis. Meanwhile, globally, around 70 countries still observe time changes, while many others, including Egypt, Argentina, and China, do not. Notably, Russia, Turkey, and Belarus have abolished daylight saving time and no longer alter their clocks.
The upcoming change in Austria is part of a broader EU initiative to potentially end the semi-annual time change. The decision lies with the Council of EU member states, which is yet to finalise the proposal approved by the EU Parliament in 2019. As Austria prepares for the clock change in 2025, it joins the growing number of countries re-evaluating the necessity of daylight saving time.
Read also:
- Rugby Star Dupont Slams Proposed Salary Cap Cut Amidst Growing Economy
- Time is of the essence
- Addressing Transportation and Storage Dilemmas through Tailor-Made Containers
- Increase in parking enforcement: Heidelberg utilizes scanner-equipped vehicles to identify violators as pressure on parking spaces intensifies
