Ibiza switches to winter time on Sunday, October 25, when clocks go back from 3 am to 2 am, giving residents an extra hour in the day.

Ibiza will get an extra hour this weekend. In the early hours of Sunday morning, clocks will go back one hour, with 3 am becoming 2 am. Winter time is here, bringing the familiar autumn question: should you put your clocks forward or back? This time, they go back.

The change will give us a 25-hour Sunday and shift sunrise and sunset to earlier times on the clock. Moving the hands does not change the amount of daylight available, but it does change when we experience it: mornings will get lighter earlier, while darkness will fall earlier in the afternoon.

Will This Be the Last Time the Clocks Change?

The question returns every time the clocks are adjusted. The debate over ending seasonal time changes remains open, but the current schedule means the switch to winter time will go ahead this October.

In 2025, the Spanish government asked the European Union to abolish the practice from 2026. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez argued at the time that changing the clocks twice a year offers little in the way of energy savings and has consequences for health and everyday life.

Despite that request, Spain moved its clocks forward in March and is scheduled to make the reverse adjustment this Sunday. A proposal to abolish the time change does not amount to a final decision, so seasonal clock changes remain in place for now.

How the Time Change Can Affect Daily Routines

Although the clocks change instantly, our daily habits do not always adjust at the same pace. Sleep patterns and appetite can take a few days to settle, particularly for people who stick to strict schedules for waking up, eating and going to bed.

Some people may experience tiredness, irritability, difficulty concentrating or disrupted sleep in the days after the change. Others will barely notice it, apart from that familiar autumn feeling of looking out of the window and wondering: “Is it dark already?”

Does Changing the Clocks Save Energy?

According to energy company Endesa, there is no single, guaranteed amount of electricity that every household will save by putting its clocks back one hour. When the European Commission proposed ending seasonal clock changes, it noted that the associated energy savings had become marginal. It also highlighted that the impact can vary depending on factors such as location and consumption habits.

Endesa says this makes sense given how much the way we use energy has changed since the time adjustment was first introduced.

“Lighting remains important, but so do heating, air conditioning, hot water and household appliances,” the company explains.

Rather than treating the clock change as an energy-saving measure in itself, it should be seen as “a reminder to review how and when we use energy at home.”

“The Clock Change Won’t Save Energy for You”

Endesa also points out that the Sunday when the clocks change can be a useful opportunity to take stock of household energy habits.

“You don’t have to change everything. Simply check whether your schedules and timers still fit the new daylight hours.”

The company recommends several practical steps that could help households manage their energy consumption and potentially reduce their bills:

  • Make the most of natural daylight before switching on the lights.
  • Review your heating schedule to ensure it matches your daily routine.
  • Check timers and programmed settings on household equipment.
  • Turn off lights when you don’t need them.
  • If you have a time-of-use electricity tariff, check which appliances or activities you can run during cheaper periods.

The clock change may only last a moment, but reviewing these everyday habits can be a useful way to make energy use more efficient throughout the colder months.