Beginning next Sunday, for the first time in years, Havana will be one hour ahead of Miami. While Florida sets its clocks back to Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5) at 2:00 a.m., Cuba will remain on UTC-4. This decision by the Cuban regime to extend daylight saving time until November 2027 is a response to the ongoing energy crisis.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines, along with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, issued a joint statement on Saturday confirming that Cuba will not adjust its clocks as previously scheduled. "The decision has been made to maintain daylight saving time in the country until November 7, 2027, the date when the next time change would occur," the statement reads.
This time difference will have immediate effects on the Cuban diaspora: from November 1, 2026, to March 14, 2027, when it's 8:00 p.m. in Miami, it will be 9:00 p.m. in Havana. Similarly, when it's noon in Miami, it will be 1:00 p.m. in Cuba. After March 14, when the U.S. shifts forward, both cities will realign their clocks.
Practical Implications of the Time Shift
Calls and Video Calls: When planning a call for 9:00 p.m. Miami time, it will be 10:00 p.m. in Havana.
Flights: Tickets will show local time for each city. A flight departing Miami at 8:00 a.m. will land in Havana at 9:00 a.m.
Consular and Embassy Appointments: It’s crucial to check the time zone for appointments to avoid being an hour late.
Remittances and Transfers: Services with cutoff times according to Miami's schedule will effectively close an hour earlier by Cuban time.
Cell Phones: Devices set to follow U.S. time zones will automatically adjust on Sunday, potentially causing confusion.
For Spain, the time difference with Cuba has also increased. On Sunday, the Iberian Peninsula set its clocks back to UTC+1. With Cuba on UTC-4, the difference is now five hours — so when it's 6:00 p.m. in Madrid, it's 1:00 p.m. in Havana — and this will remain until March 28, 2027.
Energy Crisis Drives Time Decision
This decision is far from technical or neutral. It directly results from Cuba's enduring energy crisis that began in 2024. Blackouts in Havana exceed 20 hours daily, with some provinces experiencing up to three consecutive days without power. This Sunday, the Electric Union reported an available capacity of just 990 MW against a demand of 2,850 MW, resulting in a 1,730 MW deficit.
The regime claims that keeping the clocks forward will prevent an additional 126 megawatt increase in peak demand during the evening — saving 76 MW in artificial lighting and 50 MW through solar photovoltaic generation. Additionally, the government has ordered a 30-minute delay in school and work start times from November 1 until March 14, 2027.
Social media reactions have been largely skeptical. One comment summed it up: "What does the time matter if there's no electricity at dawn or dusk?" Another user bluntly stated: "If there's never any power, who are they saving it for?"
In the U.S., the debate over abolishing the time change persists. The House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act in July, with a vote of 308 to 117, which would make daylight saving time permanent. If the Senate approves it, Florida would stop setting back the clock in the fall, and Cuba and Miami would share the same time year-round. However, the bill remains stalled for now.
Understanding the Time Change Impact
Why is Cuba not changing its clocks in November?
Cuba's government has decided to keep daylight saving time until 2027 due to the ongoing energy crisis, aiming to reduce power demand during peak hours.
How will the time change affect travel between Miami and Havana?
Travelers should be aware that flight times are listed in local time. A flight from Miami at 8:00 a.m. will land in Havana at 9:00 a.m. due to the time difference.
What should people consider for international calls?
People making calls between Miami and Havana need to add an hour to the Miami time to match the time in Havana.