If you’re trying to call a friend in Edmonton or you’ve got a flight landing at YEG, you’re probably staring at your phone wondering if you’re about to be an hour late or way too early. Time zones are weird. Honestly, the whole "spring forward, fall back" thing makes it even more confusing than it needs to be.
Edmonton, Alberta, is in the Mountain Time Zone. But here’s the catch. It isn't just "Mountain Time" all year long. Depending on when you’re reading this, Edmonton is either on Mountain Standard Time (MST) or Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).
The Quick Answer for Right Now
In 2026, Edmonton follows the standard North American pattern for seasonal shifts.
- Winter (Standard Time): Edmonton is UTC-7.
- Summer (Daylight Saving Time): Edmonton is UTC-6.
Basically, if it’s winter, you’re seven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time. If it's summer, you're only six hours behind.
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Why Edmonton Still Changes Its Clocks
You might have heard rumors that Alberta was going to stop the clock-switching madness. There was actually a huge debate about this a few years ago. In October 2021, Albertans went to the polls for a referendum to decide if they should stick with summer hours (Daylight Saving Time) all year round.
It was incredibly close. Like, "hold your breath" close.
The "No" side won by a hair—50.2% to 49.8%. Because of that tiny margin, Edmonton (and the rest of the province) is still cranking the gears on their watches twice a year.
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2026 Clock Change Dates:
- March 8, 2026: Clocks "spring forward" one hour at 2:00 AM. This is when the city moves from MST to MDT.
- November 1, 2026: Clocks "fall back" one hour at 2:00 AM. This marks the return to MST.
Comparing Edmonton to the Rest of the World
Mapping out Edmonton’s time relative to other major hubs is the best way to wrap your head around it. Since most of Canada and the U.S. also follow Daylight Saving Time, the difference between Edmonton and cities like New York or London usually stays the same, but it gets wonky for places that don't change their clocks.
- Vancouver: Edmonton is always 1 hour ahead of Vancouver.
- Toronto/New York: Edmonton is always 2 hours behind the East Coast.
- London (UK): Usually, Edmonton is 7 hours behind London. However, because the UK changes their clocks on different Sundays than Canada, there are a few weeks in March and October where that gap fluctuates to 6 or 8 hours.
- Saskatchewan: This is the one that trips people up. Saskatchewan (our neighbor to the east) does not change its clocks. In the winter, Edmonton is 1 hour behind Saskatoon. In the summer? They are the exact same time.
The Latitude Factor: Why Time Feels Different Here
Edmonton is the northernmost major city in North America. This doesn't change the numerical time zone, but it changes how you experience it.
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In late June, the sun doesn't set until around 10:00 PM. You can literally be sitting on a patio at 10:30 PM and still see a glow on the horizon. Contrast that with December, where the sun checks out by 4:15 PM.
Because we are so far north, being in the Mountain Time Zone feels very different depending on the season. During MDT (summer), those extra-long evenings are a huge part of the local culture—festivals like the Fringe or K-Days rely on that "late" sunlight.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't confuse Edmonton with the Pacific Time Zone. People often assume Western Canada is all on one time, but once you cross the Rockies into British Columbia, you drop an hour.
Another weird one? Arizona. Arizona doesn't do Daylight Saving Time. So, half the year Edmonton and Phoenix are on the same time, and the other half they aren't. If you have business calls in the desert, double-check your calendar invite.
Actionable Next Steps
- Sync your Tech: Ensure your smartphone is set to "Set Automatically" under Date & Time settings. Your phone will use the "America/Edmonton" IANA identifier to switch precisely at 2:00 AM.
- Check the Date: If you are booking travel for March or November 2026, be hyper-aware of those transition Sundays (March 8 and Nov 1). Flight times are always listed in local time, but your internal clock will definitely feel the jet lag even without leaving the ground.
- Verify with Saskatchewan: If you're doing business across the provincial border, never assume the time difference. Always ask, "Is that your time or my time?" during the summer months.