Current Time in Madrid, Spain
Live local time in Madrid with its UTC offset, daylight saving status and the time difference from your location.
Madrid Europe/Madrid
About time in Madrid
Madrid uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) as its standard time. During daylight saving time it switches to Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2). Daylight saving time starts on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October.
Mainland Spain uses Central European Time even though much of the country lies at the same longitudes as the UK and Portugal, which use Western European Time. The Canary Islands use Western European Time, one hour behind the mainland.
Madrid uses Central European Time, UTC+1 in winter and UTC+2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, even though the city lies west of the Greenwich meridian, at about 3.7°W. By longitude alone it would share a clock with London and Lisbon.
Spain moved its clocks an hour ahead in March 1940, under Franco's government, to line up with the countries to the east. The change was described as temporary and has never been reversed. The result is a late sun by the clock: at the June solstice the sun is highest over Madrid at about 2:15 p.m. and sets at about 9:50 p.m. The Canary Islands kept Western European Time, so Las Palmas and Tenerife are an hour behind Madrid and show the same time as London.
Madrid is one hour ahead of London and six ahead of New York for most of the year. From October 31 to November 6, 2027, when Spain has changed its clocks and the US has not, New York is five hours behind.
When do the clocks change in Madrid?
Daylight saving dates for 2026 and 2027, taken from the IANA time zone database. Times are local time in Madrid.
| Date | Clock change | New offset |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 02:00 → 03:00 · forward 1 hour | CEST, UTC+2 |
| Sunday, October 25, 2026 | 03:00 → 02:00 · back 1 hour | CET, UTC+1 |
| Sunday, March 28, 2027 | 02:00 → 03:00 · forward 1 hour | CEST, UTC+2 |
| Sunday, October 31, 2027 | 03:00 → 02:00 · back 1 hour | CET, UTC+1 |
Other countries change on other dates, so the gap to Madrid can move for a week or more. See when the clocks change around the world and what happens to recurring meetings.
Time difference between Madrid and other cities
The table below is calculated live from your browser's time zone data, so it already includes today's daylight saving rules.
| City | Time there now | Compared with Madrid |
|---|
Need a specific date? Use Time Compare to convert a future time with the right daylight saving offset.
Sunrise and sunset in Madrid
Local times in Madrid, calculated for its coordinates (40.42° N, 3.7° W). They can differ by a minute or two from official tables.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | |||
| March equinox (Mar 20, 2026) | 07:18 | 19:25 | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21, 2026) | 06:44 | 21:48 | 15h 04m |
| September equinox (Sep 22, 2026) | 08:02 | 20:13 | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21, 2026) | 08:34 | 17:51 | 9h 17m |
Working hours in Madrid converted to UTC
| Local time in Madrid | UTC (standard time) | UTC (daylight saving) |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 |
| 12:00 | 11:00 | 10:00 |
| 17:00 | 16:00 | 15:00 |
Convert Madrid time
Frequently asked questions about time in Madrid
When do the clocks change in Madrid in 2026?
In 2026, clocks in Madrid go forward 1 hour on Sunday, March 29 at 02:00, and go back 1 hour on Sunday, October 25 at 03:00 (local time).
What time zone is Madrid in?
Madrid is in the Central European Time zone (Europe/Madrid). Its standard UTC offset is UTC+1, and it is UTC+2 during daylight saving time (Central European Summer Time).
Does Madrid observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Daylight saving time starts on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October. During that period clocks in Madrid are set to UTC+2.
When is the longest day of the year in Madrid?
Around Jun 21, at the June solstice. The sun rises at 06:44 and sets at 21:48 local time, about 15h 04m of daylight. The shortest day is around Dec 21, with about 9h 17m.
What does a 09:00–17:00 working day in Madrid look like in UTC?
A 09:00–17:00 working day in Madrid is 08:00–16:00 UTC in standard time and 07:00–15:00 UTC during daylight saving time.