Ready for more sunlight? When Kansans ‘spring forward’ for daylight saving 2026
If you’ve been itching for more sunlight, you don’t have to wait much longer. That’s because daylight saving time is set to begin again in two months, bringing later sunsets to Wichita.
The Uniform Time Act of 1966 made daylight saving time a legal requirement, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. State governments cannot change time zones or the length of daylight saving time, but are allowed to opt out of the practice entirely.
This year, people will set their clocks forward one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8 — signifying the beginning of the time change. Here’s a quick guide to daylight saving time in Kansas and how it will affect sunset times in Wichita.
When has Kansas tried to end daylight saving time?
Kansas continues to observe daylight saving time along with 47 other states even though at least one poll shows more than half of Americans want to end the practice. Arizona and Hawaii are the only states who do not observe the practice.
But like many other states, Kansas legislators have attempted to be rid of the annual time change.
One example is Senate Bill 1, which was introduced in January 2025 and would keep the state on permanent daylight saving time. The bill was referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs in March, but didn’t advance before the legislature adjourned.
Federally, the U.S. Senate has signed off on similar legislation, called the “Sunshine Protection Act,” but has yet to make it law.
A look at Wichita sunrise and sunset times following DST
The sun will rise at 6:52 a.m. and set at 6:29 p.m. Saturday, March 7, the day before daylight saving time begins. After the clock changes at 2 a.m. March 8, the sun will then rise at 7:50 a.m. and set at 7:30 p.m.
Here’s a look at various sunrise and sunset times around Wichita following the beginning of daylight saving time:
- Tuesday, March 10: Sunrise at 7:47 a.m. and sunset at 7:31 p.m.
- Sunday, March 15: Sunrise at 7:40 a.m. and sunset at 7:36 p.m.
- Friday, March 20: Sunrise at 7:32 a.m. and sunset at 7:41 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 25: Sunrise at 7:25 a.m. and sunset at 7:45 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 31: Sunrise at 7:16 a.m. and sunset at 7:51 p.m.
- Sunday, April 5 (Easter): Sunrise at 7:08 p.m. and sunset at 7:55 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 15: Sunrise at 6:54 a.m. and sunset at 8:05 p.m.
- Thursday, April 30: Sunrise at 6:34 a.m. and sunset at 8:18 p.m.
