In Montenegro the clocks change in 2026 on Sunday 25 October: at 3 a.m. they go back one hour to 2 a.m., and summer time ends. That night you sleep an hour longer, and until spring Central European Time applies, UTC plus one hour. Summer time returns on Sunday 28 March 2027, when at 2 a.m. the clocks move to 3 a.m. The rule is set by the Law on Time Reckoning of 2024: summer time runs from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
This guide brings together the dates, the rule and the practical effects of the clock change in one place.
When do the clocks change in 2026, 2027 and 2028?
| Date | Change | Clocks |
| Sunday, 29 March 2026 | summer time begins | from 2 to 3 a.m., one hour forward |
| Sunday, 25 October 2026 | winter time begins | from 3 to 2 a.m., one hour back |
| Sunday, 28 March 2027 | summer time begins | from 2 to 3 a.m., one hour forward |
| Sunday, 31 October 2027 | winter time begins | from 3 to 2 a.m., one hour back |
| Sunday, 26 March 2028 | summer time begins | from 2 to 3 a.m., one hour forward |
| Sunday, 29 October 2028 | winter time begins | from 3 to 2 a.m., one hour back |
- The dates are calculated from the rule in the law: the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October.
- In autumn the day of the change has 25 hours, in spring 23.
What does the Law on Time Reckoning say?
| Article | Rule |
| 1 | Montenegro uses Central European Time, UTC plus one hour |
| 2 | summer time applies from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October |
| 2 | summer time starts on Sunday at 2 a.m., with clocks moved to 3 a.m. |
| 2 | summer time ends on Sunday at 3 a.m., with clocks moved to 2 a.m. |
| 3 | the previous Law on Time Reckoning of 2006 ceases to apply |
- The law was published in the Official Gazette of Montenegro no. 48/2024 and has applied since 1 June 2024.
- The law does not provide for abolishing the clock change, so clocks change in 2026 and the following years until the law is amended.
What does that night mean in practice?
- Phones and computers with automatic time settings switch on their own.
- Car clocks, ovens, microwaves and wall clocks have to be set back an hour by hand.
- A night shift scheduled from 22 to 6 o'clock lasts nine hours that night in autumn instead of eight, and seven in spring.
- Check Sunday morning appointments twice, especially if you wake up to a device that does not adjust itself.
- Under the Labour Law, night work is work between 22 and 6 o'clock; how the extra hour is counted depends on the collective agreement and the employer's working time records.
As the days get shorter, it also helps to know the days off from the guide to public holidays and the school breaks from the school calendar. The rules on night work are explained in the guide to annual leave and night work, and the winter equipment requirement in the guide to winter tyres.
Frequently asked questions
When do the clocks change in Montenegro in 2026? On Sunday 25 October 2026 at 3 a.m. the clocks go back to 2 a.m.
Do the clocks go forward or back in October? Back. The clocks go back one hour, so you sleep an hour longer that night.
When does summer time start in 2027? On Sunday 28 March 2027 at 2 a.m., when the clocks move to 3 a.m.
Which law sets the clock change in Montenegro? The Law on Time Reckoning (Official Gazette of Montenegro 48/2024), in force since 1 June 2024.
Has Montenegro abolished the clock change? No. The law in force sets summer time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
How long is a night shift on the night of the clock change? A shift from 22 to 6 o'clock lasts nine hours of actual work in October and seven in March.
Sources
Time reckoning is set by the Law on Time Reckoning (Official Gazette of Montenegro 48/2024), Articles 1 to 3, which replaced the law in the Official Gazette of Serbia and Montenegro 20/06. The dates for 2026-2028 are calculated from the rule in Article 2. Night work is defined by the Labour Law. Information checked on 29 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; this text is not legal advice.