Spain changes the time again this Sunday, October 25, but the debate about its elimination remains open. What would happen if we stopped moving the clocks forward and back twice a year? The answer depends on a decision that has not yet been made: to permanently maintain summer time or winter time.
The difference is not minor. If Spain were to keep summer time all year round, in December it would dawn around 09:30 hours in Madrid and after 10:00 in some areas of Galicia. On the other hand, if permanent winter time were chosen, during the summer months the sun would rise earlier, but it would also set an hour earlier than usual.
What would change with each schedule
Maintaining summer time all year round would allow for more light during winter afternoons, but it would delay sunrises. In Madrid, for example, the sun would rise approximately at 09:35 hours in December, compared to the current 08:35. In A Coruña, it could do so after 10:00 hours.
In contrast, keeping winter time would advance both sunrises and sunsets during the summer months. In Madrid, around the June solstice, it would dawn approximately at 05:45 hours and set around 20:50, an hour earlier than with the current summer time.
In any case, neither of the two systems would modify the amount of natural light available, but only its distribution throughout the day.
What schedule do experts recommend
The Spanish Sleep Society advocates for maintaining winter time all year round, considering that it favors greater synchronization between daily activity and biological rhythms.
Exposure to natural light in the morning helps regulate sleep, while excessively late sunrises can hinder the body's adaptation to work and school schedules.
However, the decision would also have economic and social consequences, especially for sectors such as tourism, commerce, and hospitality, which can benefit from brighter afternoons.
Why Spain has not yet eliminated the time change
The European Commission proposed to abolish time changes in 2018 and the European Parliament supported the initiative in 2019. However, the lack of agreement among member states has prevented the reform from being approved, especially due to the difficulties in coordinating the schedules of different countries.
The Spanish Government renewed the debate in October 2025, but there is still no agreed date to eliminate this practice.
In fact, the European Commission has already published the timetable for time changes until 2031, so, unless there is a regulatory modification, Spain will continue to move its clocks forward and back in March and October.
Thus, the change this Sunday, October 25, will not necessarily be the last. The decision on which time to keep permanently remains pending in Brussels.