How Spain’s days would change without daylight saving time

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will present in Brussels a proposal to abolish the seasonal clock change, a practice that for decades has marked the start of winter time in October and summer time in March.

The measure will be debated at the European Council, to bring it into force in 2026 if member states reach an agreement. According to Sánchez, “changing the clocks twice a year no longer makes sense,” as “it has hardly any impact on energy use and has negative effects on health.”

However, the key question is not simply whether the time change should be scrapped, but which schedule should become permanent: summer time (UTC+2) or winter time (UTC+1)?

Two schedules, two realities

Permanent summer time or permanent winter time, which would be better? Each option would have different implications for daily life, productivity and the country's economy.

If Spain were to keep summer time year-round, winter days would begin in deeper darkness. In many northern and central cities, the sun would not rise until after 8:30 a.m. in December, and in places such as A Coruña or Bilbao, it would be close to 9:00 a.m. In return, evenings would be longer, with natural light lasting beyond 6:30 p.m., which could benefit retail, hospitality and outdoor activities.

This scenario would require an adjustment to daily routines: schools and workplaces would often start before dawn, while evenings would become livelier. Sectors such as tourism, leisure and hospitality could see increased footfall and a longer peak season in coastal areas. There would also be a psychological dimension: some studies suggest that having more daylight later in the day helps reduce symptoms of anxiety and seasonal depression, although rising early in near darkness throughout much of the winter can equally contribute to low mood and fatigue.

In contrast, if winter time were kept permanently, dawn would break earlier – around 5:30 a.m. in June across much of the Iberian Peninsula – making it easier to start the working day with natural light and supporting rest that is better aligned with circadian rhythms. This option is favoured by most chronobiology experts, who note that early exposure to sunlight improves metabolism, concentration and sleep quality.

However, the trade-off would be earlier sunsets: in summer, the sun would set at around 9:00 p.m. in Madrid or Seville, and before 9:30 p.m. in northern areas. This would reduce daylight by roughly an hour compared with the current arrangement and could affect outdoor dining, tourism and social habits, which are deeply ingrained in Spain’s evening culture. It would also change the experience for foreign visitors, many of whom associate Spain with long, bright evenings and lively streets.

Health versus economy

Beyond the clock, the debate also has a health and social dimension. Chronobiology experts largely favour wintertime, as it aligns more closely with the body’s natural rhythms. Earlier daylight supports better sleep, improved concentration, and overall well-being. However, economic sectors that rely heavily on evening activity – such as hospitality, retail and tourism – tend to prefer summertime, which extends daylight into the evening.

Divided public opinion

Surveys in recent years reveal a divided society: most Spaniards favour summer time, though a sizeable share remains undecided.

Spain’s geographical position – combined with its time zone being one hour ahead of solar time – adds complexity to the debate. Keeping a more “natural” time would better align daylight with daily routines, while year-round summer time would reinforce a more Mediterranean, evening-focused lifestyle.

For now, nothing is settled. On Sunday, 26 October, the clocks went back once again to mark the start of winter time. But if Sánchez’s proposal succeeds in Brussels, this could be one of the final adjustments. The real question then will be: what sunlight do we want to live with every day of the year?

Not a new proposal...

In 2018, the European Commission itself proposed ending the practice of changing the clocks, following a public consultation in which 4.6 million people took part. Of these, 84% supported abolishing the changes. In 2019, the European Parliament endorsed the measure; however, implementing it requires a qualified majority among member states, which was not achieved at the time.