Time Zone History

Portugal time zone history

Portugal has 3 zones of its own in the tz database. Standard times run from UTC−1 (the Azores) to UTC+0 (Lisbon), a spread of 1 hour. All 3 zones change clocks for summer time under the current rules. The Lisbon zone has changed standard time most often since 1970: 3 times.

3 zones · 3 with seasonal clock changes under the rules in tzdata 2026f · Convert a time

The 3 zones of Portugal since 1970

the zone’s standard time today1 hour ahead2 hours aheadthe zone’s standard time today1 hour ahead2 hours ahead

How to read this chart

197019801990200020102020LisbonMadeiraAzores197019902010LisbonMadeiraAzores

Zones at a glance

ZoneArea coveredStandard timeClock changes todayNew standard times since 1970
LisbonMainland PortugalUTC+0yes3
MadeiraMadeira IslandsUTC+0yes0
AzoresAzoresUTC−1yes2

What sets each zone apart

  • Lisbon: The Lisbon zone has changed its standard time 3 times since 1970, tied second-most among the 13 zones on UTC+0 standard time. In 1942 the clocks were changed 4 times.
  • Madeira: On standard time, clocks at Madeira run 1 hour 8 minutes ahead of local mean solar time, the largest gap of the 8 zones on Atlantic islands. Madeira left local mean time (UTC−1:07:36) in 1884, tied for the earliest switch among the 8 zones on Atlantic islands.
  • Azores: The record holds 6 different UTC offsets, the most of the 8 zones on Atlantic islands. The Azores zone has changed its standard time twice since 1970, the second-most of the 8 zones on Atlantic islands.

How the zones compare with Lisbon since 1970

  • Madeira: same time as Lisbon except 4,651 days in 1970–1982, 1986 and 1992–1996.
  • Azores: usually 1 hour behind Lisbon; different on 4,472 days in 1970–1985 and 1992–1996.

Every change of standard time since 1970

5 changes across the 3 zones, oldest first.

  • September 26, 1976 Lisbon: UTC+1 to UTC+0
  • September 27, 1992 Lisbon: summer offset kept as standard time
  • December 27, 1992 Azores: UTC−1 to UTC+0
  • June 17, 1993 Azores: UTC+0 to UTC−1
  • March 31, 1996 Lisbon: summer offset kept as standard time

Clock changes in 2026, 2027 and 2028

  • Azores

    March 29, 2026 (forward 1 hour); October 25, 2026 (back 1 hour); March 28, 2027 (forward 1 hour); October 31, 2027 (back 1 hour); March 26, 2028 (forward 1 hour); October 29, 2028 (back 1 hour)

  • Lisbon, Madeira

    March 29, 2026 (forward 1 hour); October 25, 2026 (back 1 hour); March 28, 2027 (forward 1 hour); October 31, 2027 (back 1 hour); March 26, 2028 (forward 1 hour); October 29, 2028 (back 1 hour)