Ready for more sunlight? When Kentuckians ‘spring forward’ for daylight saving 2026
More sunlight is on its way to Lexington. That’s because in less than two months, daylight saving time will begin again, bringing later sunsets to Kentucky.
The Uniform Time Act of 1966 made daylight saving time a legal requirement, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. State governments cannot change time zones or the length of daylight saving time, but are allowed to exempt themselves from the practice entirely.
People will move their clock forward one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8 to signify the beginning of daylight saving time. Here’s a quick guide to daylight saving time in Kentucky and how it will affect sunset times in Lexington.
Has Kentucky tried to end daylight saving time?
Kentucky has continued to observe daylight saving time, joining 47 other states that participate. At least one poll indicates more than half of Americans want to end the practice. Arizona and Hawaii are the only states that do not observe the daylight saiving time.
Lawmakers from the Bluegrass State have tried on several occasions to be rid of the annual time change.
A recent attempt included House Bill 308, which would have made the state exempt from the practice beginning Oct. 31, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Republican State Rep, Steven Doan, did not advance out of committee. Doan has attempted to introduce similar legislation previously that also failed to advance.
There was another effort in 2023, that died in committee, even with the backing of several lawmakers.
At a federal level, the Sunshine Protection Act has been introduced to Congress on several occasions, but has not become law.
When will the sun set in Lexington?
The sun will rise at 7 a.m. and set at 6:37 p.m. Saturday, March 7. However, on March 8, the sun will rise at 7:59 a.m. and set at 7:38 p.m. following the time change.
Here are some other sunrise and sunset times in Lexington following the time change, from online clock timeanddate.com:
- Tuesday, March 10: Sunrise at 7:56 a.m. and sunset at 7:40 p.m.
- Sunday, March 15: Sunrise at 7:48 a.m. and sunset at 7:45 p.m.
- Friday, March 20: Sunrise at 7:41 a.m. and sunset at 7:49 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 25: Sunrise at 7:33 a.m. and sunset at 7:54 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 31: Sunrise at 7:24 a.m. and sunset at 8 p.m.
- Sunday, April 5 (Easter): Sunrise at 7:16 a.m. and sunset at 8:04 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 15: Sunrise at 7:02 a.m. and sunset at 8:13 p.m.
- Thursday, April 30: Sunrise at 6:42 a.m. and sunset at 8:27 p.m.
