Fall in Chicago has unofficially begun, and over the next 7 days Windy City residents will notice another sign of the season—the city will observe its last pre-7 p.m. sunset of 2026.
Here’s a look at the sunset timeline, when daylight saving time will officially end, and what shorter days in Chicago mean for you.
Chicago’s last 7 p.m. sunset of 2026
Chicago’s last pre-7 p.m. sunset will occur on Monday, September 14 with sunset falling at 7:01 p.m.
On the following day, Tuesday, September 15, the sun will set at exactly 6:59 p.m.
From there, the days will only grow shorter, with the final pre-6 p.m. sunset arriving in late October.
Daylight saving time in Chicago will conclude on Sunday, November 1, at 2:00 a.m., when we return to Standard Time and roll our clocks back one hour.
What shorter days in Chicago mean for you
While the clocks rolling back a single hour might not seem like a huge change, the return to standard time in Chicago can have a big impact on your health.
Returning to standard time means we gain an hour of sleep.
Additionally, standard time coincides with more sunlight in the morning and less in the evening, which can improve our natural circadian rhythm, according to Northwestern Medicine.
So while losing several hours of sunlight might be a difficult adjustment, more darkness can mean better sleep during the fall and winter months!
