Totale Sonnenfinsternis · 12. August 2026
Wo man die totale Sonnenfinsternis 2026 auf Mallorca beobachten kann
Mallorca sits right at the end of the path of totality on 12 August 2026 — about 1m 36s of total eclipse around 20:31 CEST, but with the Sun barely 2.5° above the sea. Here's exactly when, where on the west coast, and how to watch it safely.
In the path of totalityOn 12 August 2026 the Balearics are among the very last places on Earth to fall under the Moon's shadow. The umbra leaves the Spanish mainland, races across the Mediterranean and reaches Mallorca right at the end of the path — so if you're on the island that evening, you're inside the path of totality. In Palma totality runs about 1 minute 36 seconds, one of the longer totalities anywhere in Spain.
The catch is height: the eclipsed Sun sits barely 2.5° above the western horizon, the lowest of anywhere on the Spanish path, with sunset following soon after. Below: the precise timeline, the strongest places to set up on the west coast, an honest read on the weather, and a short field checklist.
The timeline
When the eclipse happens
At totality the eclipsed Sun sits barely 2.5° above the western horizon — the lowest of anywhere on the Spanish path. A clear, flat horizon out over open sea to the west or north-west is everything; even a distant headland or a bank of haze can hide totality.
Where to set up
The best places to watch
Palma
~1m 36sThe island's main arrival point and the reference city for the timings — totality 20:31:05 to 20:32:41 CEST. The catch is the very low Sun (~2.5°): the Bay of Palma faces south-west, so set up on the western or south-western edge of the bay with a genuinely open sea horizon and nothing — headland, hill or building — rising into the low western sky. Expect crowds, so scout your line to the horizon in advance.
Cap de Formentor
~1m 36sThe island's northern tip is an exposed, elevated headland with a wide-open view to the west and north-west — exactly the clean, flat sea horizon a 2.5° Sun demands. The single road out is narrow and slow, so arrive hours early and expect it to fill; check for any access restrictions before setting off.
Alcúdia
~1m 36sOn the north of the island, with beaches and headlands opening to the north-west — useful when the eclipsed Sun is so low. Favour an exposed point over open water rather than a bay closed off by hills, and avoid spots where the Tramuntana ridge rises into the western sky behind you.
Cala Rajada
~1m 36sA convenient resort on the eastern tip, but note the trade-off: the island's best cloud odds and most open setting-Sun views are on the west and south-west coast. From here you would want a point with an unobstructed line to the low western horizon — otherwise the west or south-west beaches facing the setting Sun are the stronger call.
Sóller
~1m 36sOn the west coast, where cloud odds are best, but its bay is hemmed by the high Serra de Tramuntana — a real risk of the ridge swallowing a 2.5° Sun. Choose an elevated coastal point with a genuinely open sea horizon to the west / north-west rather than the closed-off harbour itself.
Menorca (Maó) and Ibiza sit inside the path too, with the same very low Sun — the same west-facing, open-horizon rules apply.
The weather call
Will the sky be clear?
August evenings in the Balearics are often fine, and satellite history suggests roughly a 3-in-4 chance of seeing totality from a good west-coast spot.
The beaches and headlands of the west and south-west coast face the setting Sun and also happen to have the island's best cloud odds — which is why they are the strongest call.
The caveat: clear air right down at the horizon is never guaranteed at just 2.5°. Even on an otherwise fine evening, a band of haze or distant cloud sitting on the sea horizon can interfere right at totality.
Scout an exposed, slightly elevated coastal viewpoint with a genuinely open west, and keep half an eye on the forecast in the final days.
Plan the day
Your eclipse-day checklist
- Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE eclipse glasses — one pair per person, no exceptions.
- Scout a spot with a clear, flat western or north-western sea horizon — test it the evening before at the same time.
- Avoid any spot where a ridge, building or headland rises into the low western sky.
- Arrive early and expect crowds and full car parks at exposed coastal viewpoints.
- For the long partial phase, your camera or phone needs a solar filter — remove it only at totality.
- Don't spend totality fiddling with settings. You get about 96 seconds. Watch it.
- Glasses back on the instant the Sun's edge reappears — the diamond ring is the cue.
- Ordinary sunglasses are never safe for looking at the Sun.
⚠ Never look without certified glasses
Every second of the partial phase is unsafe to view unprotected — only during totality itself is it safe to look unaided. Ordinary sunglasses do nothing.
Quick answers
Mallorca & the Balearics eclipse FAQ
Is Mallorca in the path of totality?
What time is totality in Mallorca?
How long does totality last in Mallorca?
Why does the very low Sun matter so much?
Will the sky be clear?
Do I need eclipse glasses?
Keep exploring the path
Nearby regions to watch from
France
France sees a deep partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — up to ~99% in the far south-west,...
Read the guide → ● TotalityIceland
Western Iceland gets a genuine total eclipse on 12 August 2026 — up to ~2m 13s on land,...
Read the guide → ● TotalityValencia & Castellón
Yes — Castellón de la Plana, Peñíscola, Sagunto and the city of València all sit inside the path...
Read the guide →Quellen: timeanddate.com · nationaleclipse.com · eclipsophile.com (Wetter) · Gobierno de Aragón · BBC Sky at Night. Zeiten sind lokal (MESZ).
