Date spring 2026 starts as weather gets warmer | UK | News

Spring is one of the most anticipated times of the year as we transition from months of darkness and cold to a season full of brighter, lighter and renewal.

When spring actually starts depends on which calendar you follow, but most experts have a preference.

Depending on whether you look at the meteorological calendar or the astronomical calendar, the beginning of spring can occur on different dates.

Both approaches are widely adopted, but the Met Office uses the former, stating that “meteorological seasons provide a simple and consistent way of dividing the year”.

Meteorological spring in the UK always begins on 1 March and ends on 31 May.

The Met Office adds: “Under this system, spring acts as a bridge from the cooler, more variable weather of winter to the warmer, more stable conditions that summer can bring.

“Although daily weather varies, meteorological spring allows climate experts to track broader patterns between seasons.”

However, the first day of astronomical spring may vary because it is determined by the Earth’s position relative to the Sun.

This year it begins on the spring equinox, which falls on March 20 in the Northern Hemisphere.

On this day, the lengths of day and night are roughly equal, marking a turning point in the year when daylight hours begin to increase more rapidly.

The Met Office said: “One of the clearest signs [of Spring] is the gradual increase in daylight. After the vernal equinox, the balance shifts in favor of longer days with earlier sunrise and later sunset.

“This increase in daylight plays an important role in shaping plant and animal behavior and often increases people’s sense of energy and well-being.”