The Sun low over Paris near sunset — the 12 August 2026 partial solar eclipse in France

Éclipse solaire totale · 12 août 2026

Où observer l'éclipse solaire de 2026 en France

France sees a deep partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — up to ~99% in the far south-west, about 92% in Paris — low in the western sky near sunset. Spectacular, but it isn't totality: for that, cross into northern Spain.

Partial eclipse
Maximum~20:15 CESTMaximum · 12 Aug 2026 (varies by city)
Sun altitude~5–10°low in the west, near sunset
Coverageup to ~99%far SW near the border; ~92% in Paris
Clear-sky odds Good (south) · ≈70%Southern France usually has clear August evenings; the main risk is low cloud or haze on the western horizon at sunset, with more cloud likely in the north.
Counting down to totality
—days —hrs —min —sec

On 12 August 2026, all of France sees the Sun dramatically bitten into by the Moon — but nowhere in mainland France does it go fully dark. France sits just north of the path of totality, so the country gets a deep partial eclipse: stunning to watch, especially in the south-west where up to ~99% of the Sun disappears, but still daylight. If you want the real thing — the corona, the sudden night, the drop in temperature — you need to cross into northern Spain.

Below: how deep the partial goes across France, the best places to watch it, how to reach genuine totality just over the border, and how to do it all safely.

The timeline

When the eclipse happens

~19:10 CESTPartial begins — first "bite" out of the Sun
~20:15 CESTPartial. Glasses off only if total.
~20:55The eclipse runs into sunset — the Sun sets in the west still partly covered.

Exact timings shift across the country — the eclipse is later and deeper the further south-west you are. Everywhere, the Sun is low in the west near sunset, so a clear, flat western horizon is essential.

Where to set up

The best places to watch

Perpignan & the Pyrénées-Orientales

~99%

Deepest partial in France · gateway to Spanish totality

The far south corner by the Spanish border sees France's deepest partial — and you're barely an hour from true totality across the frontier in Catalonia. The single best base if you might cross over for the real thing.

Biarritz & the Basque coast

~98%

Deep partial · ~1h from totality in Bilbao

The Atlantic south-west gets a near-total partial with a clean sea horizon to the west — and the Spanish Basque Country's totality is a short drive south. A superb mix of partial drama and an easy totality escape.

Toulouse

~97%

Big southern city · deep partial

La Ville Rose sees around 97% of the Sun covered, low in the west — dramatic, but still daylight. For genuine totality it's roughly two hours south into the Spanish Pyrenean band.

Marseille & the Mediterranean

Deep partial

Low Sun over the sea · golden-hour eclipse

The south coast catches a deep partial with the Sun very low over the Mediterranean near sunset — beautiful, if hazy on the horizon. Not totality; the nearest is the Balearics or north-east Spain.

Paris

~92%

The capital · ~92% partial near sunset

Paris sees about 92% of the Sun obscured as it sinks toward the western horizon — a striking sight from any open west-facing viewpoint such as the Seine bridges or Sacré-Cœur. Still daylight; totality is far to the south.

The Paris Observatory's ÉclipSEOP app gives exact local timings and coverage for any spot in France — worth checking for your precise location.

The weather call

Will the sky be clear?

Mid-August evenings in southern France are usually kind — the Mediterranean and the south-west often stay clear, giving a clean run at the low Sun.

The north and west carry more cloud risk, and everywhere the Sun is close to the horizon, so distant haze or a low cloud bank can interfere at the crucial moment.

Wherever you are, pick a spot with an open, flat view to the west — a hilltop, a west-facing coast, a riverbank.

If you can travel, the single best move for both weather and spectacle is to drive south into the Spanish path of totality, where the August skies (especially the Ebro valley) are among the clearest in Europe.

Plan the day

Your eclipse-day checklist

  • Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE eclipse glasses — keep them on the ENTIRE time (a partial has no safe naked-eye moment).
  • A clear, flat western horizon — the Sun is low near sunset.
  • Chasing totality? A plan to cross into northern Spain and a spot inside the path.
  • Arrive early at any organised viewing event.
  • A west-facing viewpoint, scouted the evening before at the same time.
  • A solar filter on any camera or phone for the whole partial.
  • In a partial there is no 'glasses-off' moment — keep them on throughout.
  • Watch the forecast for low western cloud in the final 48 hours.

⚠ Never look without certified glasses

There is no safe moment to look unaided here — keep certified glasses on for the entire eclipse. Ordinary sunglasses do nothing.

Shop ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses →

Quick answers

France eclipse FAQ

Will France see a total solar eclipse in 2026?
No — mainland France sees a deep partial eclipse on 12 August 2026, not totality. The path of totality passes just to the south, over northern Spain. The closer you are to the Spanish border (the south-west), the more of the Sun is covered — up to about 99%.
How much of the Sun will be covered in France?
It depends where you are. The far south-west near the Pyrénées sees up to ~99%; Toulouse around 97%; Paris about 92%; and the north-east somewhat less. Even at 99% it stays daylight — a partial eclipse is nothing like totality.
What time is the eclipse in France?
Late in the day, into the evening — maximum eclipse falls roughly between 20:00 and 20:30 local time (CEST) for much of the country, with the Sun low in the western sky near sunset. Exact times vary by location.
Where can I see totality near France?
Cross into northern Spain. The nearest totality to France runs through the Basque Country, Navarra, Aragón and Catalonia — from the south-west of France it can be little more than an hour or two's drive. See our Spain guides for the best spots.
Do I need eclipse glasses for a partial eclipse?
Yes — absolutely, and for the entire event. In a partial eclipse the Sun is never fully covered, so there is no safe moment to look without protection. Use certified ISO 12312-2 glasses from start to finish, and never look through a camera, phone or binoculars without a proper solar filter.
Where is the best place in France to watch?
Anywhere in the south with a clear, flat western horizon — the south-west (Perpignan, the Basque coast, Toulouse) gets the deepest partial and is closest to Spanish totality. Wherever you are, the Sun is low near sunset, so an open western view matters most.

Keep exploring the path

Nearby regions to watch from

● Totality

Iceland

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Valencia & Castellón

Yes — Castellón de la Plana, Peñíscola, Sagunto and the city of València all sit inside the path...

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Asturias & the North Coast

Yes — the whole of Asturias is inside the 12 August 2026 path of totality. The Moon fully...

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Sources : timeanddate.com · nationaleclipse.com · eclipsophile.com (météo) · Gobierno de Aragón · BBC Sky at Night. Les heures sont locales (CEST).