Learn how Auctria uses your organization's timezone and your own timezone to show and enter dates and times.
Dates and times control when bidding opens and closes, when items are visible, and when purchases and donations are available. Auctria works with two timezones:
| Timezone | Where It Comes From | Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Organization timezone | The Timezone setting on your Organization page | Showing and entering dates and times on details and settings pages, and formatting times in emails and other system messages |
| Your timezone | Your computer or phone settings, through your browser | A second line under the organization time when your timezone is different, and times in other parts of the dashboard |
Guests see times on your event website in their own timezone.
Set Your Organization Timezone
Steps
- Click Organization in the left sidebar.
- Open the Details tab.
- In the Settings section, choose your Timezone.
- Save your changes.
The Timezone setting on the Organization page from a demonstration event.
The timezone applies to every event in your organization. See Introduction To Organizations for more about organization settings.
Timezone names cover the whole year
Each option in the Timezone list is a set of rules for one region, not a single offset. For example, Eastern Standard Time covers both Eastern Standard Time and Eastern Daylight Time. Choose the option for your location, and Auctria applies any daylight saving changes for you.
How Dates and Times Are Shown
On details and settings pages, Auctria shows each date and time in your organization's timezone first, followed by the timezone name. For example: 01 Nov 2026 7:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time).
If your own timezone is different, your local time appears as a lighter second line below it. If the two timezones match, only one line appears.
An example date and time from a demonstration event, viewed from a different timezone.
Some places still use your timezone
Organization time applies to fields on details and settings pages. Some other places in the dashboard, such as the Starts at time in an item's sidebar, still show times in your own timezone.
Why a Time Can Say "Standard" During Daylight Time
The timezone name matches the date being shown, not today's date. For example, if you're viewing a December date in October, it's labelled Eastern Standard Time even though clocks are still on daylight time today. The time itself is correct.
Entering Dates and Times
When you edit a date and time, the picker uses your organization's timezone. A note below the field tells you which timezone you're entering the time in: You are specifying the time in followed by the timezone name.
If your own timezone is different, an Edit in button appears next to the clear button. Click it to switch between your organization's timezone and your own. Each time you start editing, the picker switches back to your organization's timezone.
The date and time picker with the Edit in button from a demonstration event.
The Now button always sets the current moment, whichever timezone you're editing in.
Planning an event from another timezone
Enter times as they will happen at your event, in your organization's timezone. You don't need to convert them to your own time. If an event takes place outside your organization's timezone, convert its times to your organization's timezone before you enter them.
Canadian Timezone Changes (November 2026)
British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba have moved to permanent daylight time. Clocks in these provinces do not go back one hour on November 1, 2026.
| Province | Offset Year-Round | Organization Timezone |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | UTC-7 | British Columbia Standard Time |
| Alberta | UTC-6 | Alberta Standard Time |
| Manitoba | UTC-5 | Manitoba Standard Time |
Auctria automatically updated Canadian organizations that used these timezones:
| Previous Timezone | Updated To |
|---|---|
| Pacific Standard Time | British Columbia Standard Time |
| Mountain Standard Time | Alberta Standard Time |
| Central Standard Time | Manitoba Standard Time |
The older Pacific, Mountain, and Central options still follow the old rules. Clocks change in March and November, so those options don't give the right time for these provinces after November 1.
Not in British Columbia, Alberta, or Manitoba?
If your organization is in an area that still changes its clocks, but was set to Pacific, Mountain, or Central time, change your organization timezone back to the correct option.
Check Event Times After November 1
Auctria saves each date and time as an exact moment. A time entered before this change, for a date after November 1, was calculated using the old rules. It may now show one hour later than you intended.
Review times for dates after November 1
If you have events after November 1, 2026, check these times and update any that are off by an hour:
- Settings → Online Bidding (the Online Bidding Period)
- Online Visibility and Online Availability
- Any override times on individual items
Labels Such as "Mountain Daylight Time"
Your browser and device have their own names for timezones. You may see labels such as Mountain Daylight Time or Pacific Daylight Time instead of the new provincial names. These labels don't affect the times in Auctria.
What matters is the offset from UTC. After November 1, it should be:
- British Columbia: UTC-7
- Alberta: UTC-6
- Manitoba: UTC-5
If your device shows a different offset after November 1, update your computer or phone's operating system and your browser so they use the new rules.