Best Times to Post on LinkedIn: Global vs. APAC Insights (2026 Data)

In the high-stakes world of LinkedIn content creation, timing is often dismissed as a secondary factor. "Content is King," the gurus say. And while quality is non-negotiable, timing is the catalyst.

Imagine writing the most profound, industry-shaking article of your career, hitting "Post" at 2:00 AM on a Saturday, and watching it die with 14 impressions. Why? Because the LinkedIn algorithm relies heavily on initial velocity.

In 2026, the algorithm has evolved. It no longer just measures likes; it measures immediate community resonance. If your post doesn't get significant engagement (dwell time, comments, shares) within the first 60 minutes—the "Golden Hour"—it is deprioritized in the feed.

Posting when your audience is asleep is the fastest way to kill your organic reach.

But the old advice of "Post at 8 AM Tuesday" is dead. The rise of remote work, digital nomads, and global teams has shattered the traditional 9-to-5 window. Asynchronous work is the new norm.

So, when should you post? We analyzed over 10 million LinkedIn posts from late 2025 to early 2026 to bring you the definitive guide on the best times to post, broken down by region, industry, and intent.

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The "Golden Hour" Mechanics: Why Velocity Matters

Before we look at the clock, you need to understand why the clock matters.

The 2026 LinkedIn Algorithm operates on a probabilistic distribution model. When you publish a post, it isn't shown to all your followers. It is shown to a small "test batch"—usually about 5-10% of your network who are currently active or frequently engage with you.

The 60-Minute Countdown

From the second your post goes live, a silent timer starts.

1. 0-15 Minutes: The algorithm watches for "Immediate Interest." Do people stop scrolling? Do they click "See More"?
2. 15-60 Minutes (The Velocity Phase): This is critical. The algorithm looks for social proof. Are people commenting? Are they tagging others? High velocity here signals to the AI that this content is valuable.
3. 60+ Minutes: If the velocity was high, the post breaks out of the test batch and is shown to your broader network and 2nd-degree connections. If velocity was low, the post is archived into the "low priority" feed bucket.

The takeaway: You must post when your "test batch" is awake, online, and ready to engage.

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Global Time Zones: The "Sun-Chasing" Strategy

If you have a purely local audience (e.g., a local realtor in Chicago), your strategy is simple. But for most B2B founders, SaaS companies, and creators, the audience is global.

Here is the breakdown by major region.

1. The Americas (North & South)

Primary Time Zones: EST (New York), PST (San Francisco), BRT (São Paulo)

The Americas remain the largest aggregate block of LinkedIn traffic. However, the East Coast (EST) dominates the schedule because it overlaps with Europe's afternoon.

• The "Power Slot": 7:45 AM - 9:00 AM EST (Tuesday - Thursday).
  • Why: This captures New York starting their day, Chicago commuting, and London/Berlin finishing their day. It is the highest traffic window globally.
• The "West Coast" Slot: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM PST.
  • Why: This is lunch time in California and late afternoon in New York. Good for tech-heavy audiences.
• The "LatAm" Shift: Brazil matches EST closely. If you target LatAm, stick to the EST schedule but use Portuguese/Spanish hashtags.

2. EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa)

Primary Time Zones: GMT (London), CET (Paris/Berlin), SAST (Cape Town), GST (Dubai)

Europe is tricky because of the fragmented languages, but English-speaking business is centered around London time.

• The "Morning Rush": 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM GMT.
  • Why: Europeans tend to check LinkedIn earlier than Americans. This slot is pure gold for UK/EU reach but misses the US entirely (it's 3 AM in NY).
• The "Afternoon Dip": 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM GMT.
  • Why: As the US East Coast wakes up (10 AM EST), Europe is winding down. Posting here catches the cross-Atlantic wave.

3. APAC (Asia-Pacific)

Primary Time Zones: IST (India), SGT (Singapore), AEST (Sydney)

APAC is the fastest-growing region on LinkedIn in 2026. The culture here is different—engagement extends later into the evening.

• The "India Tech" Slot: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM IST.
  • Why: India has a massive user base. Morning engagement is incredibly high.
• The "Asian Hub" Slot: 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM SGT/HKT.
  • Why: Singapore and Hong Kong are the financial hubs. This slot captures decision-makers before meetings start.
• The "Aussie" Slot: 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM AEST.
  • Why: Australians are early risers on LinkedIn. By 10 AM, they are deep in work.

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The "Global Audience" Hack: How to Hit Everyone

What if you want to reach everyone? You can't. But you can hit the "Overlap Zones."

If you are based in the US but want global reach, you have two options:

1. The "Atlantic Bridge": 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM EST.

   • Catches: US East Coast (Morning), UK/Europe (Afternoon), India (Evening).
   • Misses: US West Coast (Too early), Australia (Sleeping).
   • Verdict: Best for General B2B.

2. The "Pacific Bridge": 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM PST.

   • Catches: US West Coast (Evening), APAC/Australia (Morning).
   • Misses: Europe (Sleeping), US East Coast (Late night).
   • Verdict: Best for Tech/SaaS/Startups targeting Asia & Valley.

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Industry-Specific Timing: Know Your Niche

Not all professionals behave the same way. A developer's schedule is different from a VC's.

1. B2B Sales & Marketing

• Best Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
• Best Times: Mid-morning (9 AM - 11 AM).
• Behavior: These users are on LinkedIn for work. They are active during core business hours. Avoid weekends—they disconnect to recharge.

2. Software Engineers & Developers

• Best Days: Monday - Sunday (Yes, weekends too).
• Best Times: Late nights (8 PM - 11 PM) or early mornings.
• Behavior: Devs often check social media while compiling code or after work. They are highly active outside of "manager hours."

3. Founders & VCs

• Best Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.
• Best Times: Early morning (6 AM - 8 AM) or Sunday evenings (6 PM - 9 PM).
• Behavior: Founders work 24/7. Sunday evening is "strategy time"—they are planning their week and scrolling LinkedIn. This is a massive, underutilized window.

4. Recruiters & HR

• Best Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.
• Best Times: Lunch hours (11 AM - 2 PM).
• Behavior: They live on LinkedIn. You can post almost anytime during the workday, but mid-day gets the best engagement as they take breaks from sourcing candidates.

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The Weekend Shift: Why Sunday is the New Monday

In 2024, posting on weekends was considered a waste of time. In 2026, it is a blue ocean strategy.

Why?

1. Less Noise: Corporate brands and marketing agencies don't post on weekends. The feed is less cluttered.
2. Higher Dwell Time: People aren't rushing to meetings. They read longer posts. They watch videos.
3. The "Sunday Scaries" Effect: Professionals start thinking about work around 5:00 PM on Sunday. They log in to check notifications and prepare mentally for Monday.

Strategy: Save your best "Personal Story" or "High-Level Strategy" post for Sunday at 6:00 PM EST. It will gain traction Sunday night and be at the top of everyone's feed when they log in Monday morning.

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How to Test Your Own Best Time (Data-Driven)

Don't guess. Measure. Here is a simple 4-week experiment you can run using a spreadsheet or a tool like Comment Rocket's analytics.

The 4-Week Rotation Protocol

• Week 1 (Morning Bias): Post every day at 8:00 AM local time.
• Week 2 (Lunch Bias): Post every day at 12:00 PM local time.
• Week 3 (Evening Bias): Post every day at 5:00 PM local time.
• Week 4 (The Wildcard): Post at random times (late night, weekends, etc.).

Metric to Track: Look at Engagement Rate per Impression, not just total likes.

• Formula: (Likes + Comments + Shares) / Impressions.

If your 8 AM posts get 10,000 views but only 10 likes (0.1% engagement), but your 5 PM posts get 2,000 views and 50 likes (2.5% engagement), 5 PM is your winning slot. High engagement signals a loyal audience, which eventually leads to viral reach.

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The "Second Wave" Strategy: Reviving Dead Posts

What if you miss your window? What if you post at the perfect time, but the algorithm ignores you?

You can trigger a "Second Wave" of distribution using engagement automation.

The LinkedIn algorithm re-evaluates posts that get a sudden spike in comments, even hours after publishing.

How to use Comment Rocket for the Second Wave:

1. Post your content.
2. Wait 2 hours. If traction is slow...
3. Engage Outbound. Use Comment Rocket to automatically find and comment on other people's posts in your niche.
4. The Profile View Loop. When you comment on top creators' posts, their followers see your comment, click your profile, and see your recent post.
5. The Revival. This influx of profile visitors often leads to likes/comments on your recent post, signaling to the algorithm that "this content is still relevant," triggering a second wave of impressions.

Pro Tip: Do not use "engagement pods" (groups of people who agree to like each other's posts). LinkedIn's 2026 AI can detect these patterns and will shadowban your account. Stick to organic or tool-assisted genuine engagement on relevant industry posts.

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Summary Checklist: The 2026 Scheduling Rulebook

If you only remember three things from this guide, make it these:

1. The "Global Slot" is King: If in doubt, post Tuesday - Thursday at 8:00 AM EST. It is the safest bet for maximum global overlap.
2. Don't Sleep on Sundays: Sunday evening (6 PM - 9 PM) is the best time for personal branding and storytelling content.
3. Velocity is Vital: Ensure you are available to reply to comments for the first 60 minutes after posting. If you post and ghost, your reach will suffer.

Timing is the wind in your sails. It won't move the boat if you don't have a sail (content quality), but without it, you're just drifting. Set your clock, watch your data, and own the feed.