Current time in Nashville, TN
Central Time UTC−6 · IANA zone America/Chicago
Time zone details
| Time zone | Central Time (CT) |
|---|---|
| Standard time | CST, UTC−6 (early Nov – mid Mar) |
| Daylight time | CDT, UTC−5 (mid Mar – early Nov) |
| DST clock change | Forward 1 h, 2nd Sunday of March · Back 1 h, 1st Sunday of November |
| Sunrise today | — |
| Sunset today | — |
| Day length | — |
| Coordinates | 36.16° N, 86.78° W |
Time difference from Nashville
| City | Local time now |
|---|---|
| New York | +1 h |
| Denver | −1 h |
| Phoenix | −1 / −2 h |
| Los Angeles | −2 h |
| Anchorage | −3 h |
| Honolulu | −4 / −5 h |
Nashville shares the Central Time Zone minute-for-minute with Memphis, Birmingham, St. Louis, and Chicago.
About time in Nashville
Nashville has governed itself jointly with Davidson County since 1963, when the two consolidated into a single metropolitan government — the whole of it on Central Time.
The state around it is divided: East Tennessee, including Knoxville and Chattanooga, observes Eastern Time, with the change coming at the Marion County line near the Nickajack area — so Tennesseans routinely quote both "Central" and "Eastern" when arranging anything statewide.
Broadcasting has long run on Nashville's clock: WSM's Grand Ole Opry, the longest-running live radio program in the United States, has aired its shows to a Central Time schedule since 1925, and the city's music-business offices bridge New York an hour ahead and Los Angeles two hours behind.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Nashville in?
Nashville is in the Central Time Zone (CT). It uses Central Standard Time (CST, UTC−6) in winter and Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−5) from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November.
Is Nashville on the same time as Knoxville?
No. Tennessee is split between two zones: Nashville keeps Central Time while Knoxville keeps Eastern Time, one hour ahead. The boundary runs along the Marion County line in the state's southeast.
Does Nashville observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Nashville sets clocks forward one hour at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday of March and back one hour at 2:00 AM on the first Sunday of November — in 2026, March 8 and November 1.