The Time Zone Law establishes that the time change in Nuevo León will only occur in the municipality of Anáhuac on March 8, 2026. Since 2022, clocks have not been adjusted in most of Mexico, including the state capital, Monterrey.
For residents of the border region who must synchronize with the United States, clocks will be moved forward one hour on the second Sunday of March.
On what date does the time change in Nuevo León, and which municipalities move their clocks forward?
The Official Gazette of the Federation confirms that the clock adjustment for 2026 will only apply to the northern border region to maintain binational operations. While Monterrey and the rest of the state remain on fixed time, in the municipality of Anáhuac, clocks must be moved forward one hour at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 8.
This exceptional measure allows commercial activities to continue uninterrupted due to the time difference with the United States. The seasonal calendar for regions that still observe daylight saving time is defined as follows:
Daylight Saving Time: Begins on the second Sunday of March (March 8), when clocks must be moved forward one hour.
Winter Time: Begins on the first Sunday of November (November 1), when clocks must be moved back one hour.
Border municipalities: In addition to Anáhuac in Nuevo León, the adjustment applies to locations in Coahuila such as Piedras Negras and in Tamaulipas such as Nuevo Laredo.
This synchronization is essential for workers and truckers who cross daily into cities like Laredo, Texas.
In the case of Baja California, the time change is applied across the entire state. Conversely, in Chihuahua and Tamaulipas, the measure is limited exclusively to the municipalities that directly border the United States.
Why do Monterrey and central Mexico no longer observe daylight saving time?
The Mexican government eliminated widespread daylight saving time after determining that it did not generate significant energy savings and negatively impacted the population’s well-being. Due to this 2022 reform, metropolitan areas like Monterrey maintain the same time zone year-round.
Sectors that still observe daylight saving time do so to avoid disruptions in the following areas:
Border crossings: Facilitates logistics at customs and the transit of heavy goods.
Financial markets: Aligns banking operations with U.S. stock exchanges.
Air connectivity: Allows for better coordination of international flight schedules.
The false daylight saving time has taken residents of Mexico City by surprise.
It is recommended that people outside the border region check their smartphone settings. In some cases, devices may make an incorrect automatic change, so it is suggested to disable the “Automatic time zone adjustment” option to avoid confusion in activities scheduled for 2026.
Source: adn40
