Brazil has had no daylight saving time since 2019. Decree No. 9,772 of April 25, 2019 ended it, and the last period ran until the clocks went back at midnight on February 16–17, 2019. The official reason: it no longer delivered the expected electricity savings. Brasília is now on UTC−3 all year.
When and how daylight saving time ended
Brazil's last daylight saving period began on November 4, 2018 and ended on February 17, 2019 (clocks went from 12:00 a.m. back to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday). On April 25, 2019, President Jair Bolsonaro signed Decree No. 9,772, which revoked the decrees governing daylight saving time. Since then, no Brazilian state changes its clocks.
Why the government ended it
According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, studies by the power sector concluded that daylight saving time no longer produced the expected reduction in electricity use. The technical explanation points to changing consumption habits: with more air conditioning running in the afternoon, peak demand is no longer just the early evening, so the extra hour of evening daylight lost its effect.
History: from 1931 to 2018
- 1931: first adoption under Decree No. 20,466 of October 1, 1931, during Getúlio Vargas's government, in force until March 31, 1932.
- Following decades: on-and-off use, with periods of adoption and suspension in different regions.
- 1985 to 2018: daylight saving time was adopted every year, with dates set by decree.
- 2008: Decree No. 6,558 set permanent rules: start on the third Sunday of October, end on the third Sunday of February (adjusted when it clashed with Carnival).
- 2018: the start moved to the first Sunday of November at the request of the electoral courts, to avoid overlapping with the election period.
- 2019: abolished by Decree No. 9,772.
In its final years it applied only to the South, Southeast and Center-West (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and the Federal District). The North and Northeast did not change their clocks in that period.
Could daylight saving time come back?
There is no decision to bring it back. According to statements by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the grid operator ONS reported in the press in 2026, the measure remains suspended, the technical assessment is that the power system is stable, and a return would only be considered under severe grid stress, such as a prolonged drought that depletes reservoirs. The ministry says it keeps evaluating the topic periodically. The drop in solar output in the late afternoon also comes up in the technical debate, but that is discussion, not a decision.
How the lack of daylight saving time changes time differences
Because Brazil's clocks stay fixed, the gap changes only when other countries shift theirs, such as the US and Europe. Compare the gap between November and February (when the US and Europe are on standard time), before and after 2019:
| City | Nov–Feb with Brazilian DST (Brasília on UTC−2) | Nov–Feb today (Brasília on UTC−3) |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 3 hours behind Brasília | 2 hours behind Brasília |
| Lisbon and London | 2 hours ahead of Brasília | 3 hours ahead of Brasília |
| Paris and Berlin | 3 hours ahead of Brasília | 4 hours ahead of Brasília |
See the current gaps through the year on the US daylight saving time and European daylight saving time pages.
Frequently asked questions
Does Brazil have daylight saving time in 2026?
No. It has been suspended since 2019 and Brasília stays on UTC−3 all year.
When was Brazil's last daylight saving time?
From November 4, 2018 to February 17, 2019.
Which decree ended it?
Decree No. 9,772 of April 25, 2019.
Since when did Brazil use daylight saving time?
It was first adopted on October 1, 1931; use was then intermittent, and annual from 1985 to 2018.
Do I need to change my clock in November in Brazil?
No. But the US and Europe do, so the time difference with them changes.
Summary
Brazil used daylight saving time every year from 1985 to 2018 and dropped it in 2019 because the energy savings no longer held up. The country is on UTC−3 all year; what changes are the gaps with places that still adjust their clocks. To work out any case, use the time zone converter, the time difference page and the time zones guide. See also the overview of daylight saving time worldwide.