Cuba and Florida reached November 1, 2026, with different time schedules. While Miami and most of Florida set their clocks back an hour to return to standard time, Cuba decided to maintain daylight saving time, which means Havana is one hour ahead of Miami.
The initial plan anticipated that both territories would change the time that Sunday. However, on October 24, Cuban authorities announced that the island would not make the scheduled adjustment and would maintain its current timezone until November 2027.
In Florida, the change occurred on November 1 at 2:00 a.m., when the clocks were set back to 1:00 a.m., according to the official calendar of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Miami moved from Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4) to Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5), while Cuba remained on UTC−4. For example, when it is 8:00 AM in Miami, it is 9:00 AM in Havana.
To check the current time difference at any moment, you can consult . The CiberCuba service displays both clocks, the time difference, and a converter to calculate the time for calls, flights, or appointments on specific dates.
Why didn't Cuba change the time in November 2026?
The Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of Cuba announced on October 24 that daylight saving time would remain uninterrupted until November 7, 2027, the scheduled date to return to standard time.
The decision, explained in a joint informative note from both organizations, was made amid the Cuban energy crisis. According to the authorities, keeping the clock advanced would reduce the projected impact during the evening period of peak electricity demand by 126 megawatts.
The Government has also decided to delay the start of school and work activities by 30 minutes from November 1, 2026, to March 14, 2027, to partially compensate for the fact that it gets light later according to the official time.
The decision to maintain daylight saving time in Cuba until November 2027 altered the calendar that had been communicated months earlier, which included setting the clocks back on November 1, 2026.
How long will there be a one-hour difference between Cuba and Miami?
According to the current calendar, Cuba will be one hour ahead of Miami until March 14, 2027, when Florida will set its clocks forward to begin daylight saving time.
On that day, Miami will shift from UTC−5 to UTC−4, aligning once again with the official time of Havana, unless new regulatory changes are announced.
For those living in the United States who frequently stay in touch with family in Cuba, this difference affects the coordination of calls, video calls, appointments, and other arrangements. It is important to always verify whether a stated time corresponds to Miami or Havana.
Does all of Florida have the same time as Miami?
No. Miami, Hialeah, Doral, Homestead, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, and Naples belong to the Eastern Time Zone of the United States.
However, some areas in the far northwest of Florida, such as Pensacola, use Central Time, which is one hour behind Miami.
Both regions adjusted their clocks on November 1, but their local times continue to be different. Therefore, when organizing an activity between Cuba and a city in Florida, it is advisable to check the time zone of the specific location.
Why does Florida continue to switch to standard time?
Florida approved in 2018 legislation known as Sunshine Protection Act, with the intention of establishing daylight saving time permanently.
However, the implementation of that measure depends on changes to U.S. federal legislation. Until a regulation that modifies the system takes effect, Miami and most of Florida will continue to move their clocks forward in March and back in November.
The U.S. calendar states that daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.
To avoid errors when scheduling trips or communications between both countries, the allows you to select a date and find out the corresponding time in each location, including the periods when their daylight saving time changes do not align.
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