Pamplona, Navarra — total solar eclipse, 12 August 2026

Éclipse solaire totale · 12 août 2026

Où observer l'éclipse solaire totale de 2026 en Navarre

Southern Navarra is in the path of totality on 12 August 2026 — the Ribera del Ebro sees up to ~1m 27s of total eclipse. But Pamplona is just outside: it gets only a deep partial, so head south to the Ribera.

In the path of totality
Totality begins20:29 CESTRibera del Ebro · 12 Aug 2026
Duration~1m 27sup to ~1m 27s at Fitero
Sun altitude~6°low in the west, near sunset
Coverage100%total in the south — corona visible
Clear-sky odds Excellent · ≈82%The Ebro valley has some of the best clear-sky odds on the whole Spanish path — August cloud here often drops below 30%.
Counting down to totality
—days —hrs —min —sec

On 12 August 2026 the path of totality clips the southern half of Navarra — with an important catch for anyone in the capital. Pamplona itself is just outside the path: it sees a very deep partial, not totality. To stand in the Moon's shadow you need to be down in the Ribera del Ebro or the central Tafalla–Olite belt.

Below: the precise timeline, the strongest places to set up, an honest read on the weather, and a short field checklist so the day actually goes to plan.

The timeline

When the eclipse happens

~19:35Partial begins — first "bite" out of the Sun
20:29 CESTTotality — ~1m 27s. Glasses off only if total.
~20:55Sun sets with the partial phase still in progress

At totality the Sun sits only ~6° above the western horizon, so a clean, flat view to the west is the single biggest thing separating a great spot from a ruined one. A low ridge, a tree line or a town skyline can quietly swallow the whole event.

Where to set up

The best places to watch

Tudela

~1m 20s

Ribera del Ebro · main base · official viewing areas

The region's main base for totality, with official viewing areas planned. Totality lasts about 1 minute 20 seconds with the Sun only ~6° above the horizon, so pick open ground or the riverbank where the western view is genuinely flat. Expect crowds, road management and full car parks — arrive well ahead of time.

Fitero

~1m 27s

Far south · longest totality in Navarra

The southern strip of Navarra gets the most totality, up to about 1 minute 27 seconds here at Fitero — the longest in the region. A quiet spa town in the far south-western corner; find an exposed spot with a clean, open horizon to the west, as the Sun sits only about 6° up at totality.

Bardenas Reales

~1m 25s

Semi-desert badlands · wide horizon

The semi-desert badlands near Tudela are a spectacular, wide-horizon setting for a low-Sun eclipse — exactly the flat, open western view you want when the Sun is only ~6° above the horizon. Note that access and parking will be tightly managed on the day, so plan your route and arrival carefully.

Corella

~1m 25s

Southern Ribera · true totality

One of the southern Ribera towns squarely inside the path, with around 1 minute 25 seconds of totality. A relaxed alternative to busy Tudela; head to the open farmland on the town's western edge so the low Sun stays clear of buildings and tree lines.

Cintruénigo

~1m 25s

Southern strip · true totality

Part of the southern strip that gets the most totality — around 1 minute 25 seconds. Sitting close to Fitero and Corella, it makes a good fallback base if nearby towns fill up. Choose an exposed location with a genuinely flat western horizon for the low, 6°-altitude Sun.

Tudela is planning official viewing areas in the Ribera; access and parking in the Bardenas Reales will be tightly managed on the day, so plan your route early.

The weather call

Will the sky be clear?

Southern Navarra sits in the Ebro valley, which has some of the best clear-sky odds on the whole Spanish path — August cloud here frequently drops below 30%.

Combined with the wide, flat horizons of the Ribera and the Bardenas, it is a genuinely strong place to be for a low-Sun eclipse.

The one caveat: at just ~6° altitude, the Sun is shining through a lot of low atmosphere, so a band of haze or distant cloud on the horizon can interfere right at totality.

Pick an exposed spot with a genuinely open west, and keep half an eye on the forecast in the final 48 hours.

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 horizon — test it the evening before at the same time.
  • Arrive 2–3 hours early. Expect road closures and full car parks near official sites.
  • Water, sun cover and a hat — it's a Navarrese August afternoon before it cools at totality.
  • A low, open foreground (the Ribera plain, the Bardenas badlands) makes the photo.
  • For the partial phase, your camera or phone needs a solar filter — remove it only at totality.
  • Don't spend totality fiddling with settings. You get under 90 seconds. Watch it.
  • Glasses back on the instant the Sun's edge reappears — the diamond ring is the cue.

⚠ 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.

Shop ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses →

Quick answers

Navarra eclipse FAQ

Is Pamplona in the path of totality?
No. Pamplona sits just outside the path and sees only a very deep partial — a thin crescent low in the west around 20:28, but the sky won't go truly dark and the corona won't appear. To experience true totality you must travel about an hour south into the Ribera del Ebro (Tudela, Corella, Fitero) or the central Tafalla–Olite belt.
Where in Navarra can I actually see totality?
In the southern half of the region. The centre of the path crosses the Ribera del Ebro, so Tudela, Fitero, Cascante, Corella, Cintruénigo, Ribaforada, Castejón and Ablitas all fall inside the band, as do the Bardenas Reales. The central Tafalla–Olite belt is just inside the path too, with a little under a minute of totality.
What time is totality in southern Navarra?
Totality arrives around 20:29 CEST in the Ribera del Ebro on 12 August 2026, with the Sun only about 6° above the western horizon. Duration runs up to about 1 minute 27 seconds at Fitero in the far south, easing to roughly 1 minute 20 seconds at Tudela.
What are the weather odds in southern Navarra?
Strong. Southern Navarra sits in the Ebro valley, which has some of the best clear-sky odds on the whole Spanish path — August cloud cover here often drops below 30%. Combined with the wide, flat horizons of the Ribera and the Bardenas, it is a genuinely good place to be for a low-Sun eclipse.
Do I need eclipse glasses if I'm in Pamplona?
Yes — and you must keep them on the entire time. Use CE-certified, ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses for the whole partial phase. In Pamplona and anywhere outside the path there is no safe moment to look unaided. Only inside the Ribera, during totality itself, can you briefly look with the naked eye.

Keep exploring the path

Nearby regions to watch from

● Partial

France

France sees a deep partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — up to ~99% in the far south-west,...

Read the guide → ● Totality

Iceland

Western Iceland gets a genuine total eclipse on 12 August 2026 — up to ~2m 13s on land,...

Read the guide → ● Totality

Valencia & Castellón

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

Read the guide →

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