12 August 2026 · total solar eclipse
Where to watch the 2026 total solar eclipse
On 12 August 2026, the Moon's shadow crosses the North Atlantic — bringing a total solar eclipse to Iceland, then to northern Spain at sunset, while most of Europe sees a deep partial. Choose a country and region below for local timings, the best viewing spots and how long totality lasts. Wherever you watch, you need certified eclipse glasses for every partial stage.
- 12 Aug 2026Eclipse date
- Iceland → SpainTotality crosses
- up to ~2 minMax totality
- Most of EuropeSees a partial
Spain10 guides
Mainland totality at sunset — the easiest place in Europe to reach the path.
Totality
Where to watch the 2026 total solar eclipse in Valencia & CastellónIn the path of totalityYes — Castellón de la Plana, Peñíscola, Sagunto and the city of València all sit inside the path of totality on 12 August 2026....Read the guide
Totality
Where to watch the 2026 total solar eclipse in AsturiasIn the path of totalityYes — the whole of Asturias is inside the 12 August 2026 path of totality. The Moon fully covers the Sun at about 20:27...Read the guide
Totality
Where to watch the 2026 total solar eclipse in CantabriaIn the path of totalityYes — Cantabria sits squarely inside the 12 August 2026 path of totality. The total phase reaches the Santander coast at around 20:27 CEST...Read the guide
Totality
Where to watch the 2026 total solar eclipse in Aragón (Zaragoza)In the path of totalityAragón has the best clear-sky odds on the whole Spanish path. Zaragoza sees about 1m25s of totality at 20:29 CEST on 12 August 2026,...Read the guide
Totality
The best places in Spain to watch the 2026 total solar eclipseIn the path of totalityWhere to stand on 12 August 2026, ranked by what actually matters: longest totality, clearest August skies and a clear low western horizon —...Read the guide
Near-total
Watching the 2026 solar eclipse from Catalunya & BarcelonaDeep partial — totality nearbyBarcelona sees a stunning ~99.9% partial on 12 August 2026 — but that's not totality. The good news: real totality is in southern Catalonia...Read the guide
Totality
Where to watch the 2026 total solar eclipse in NavarraIn the path of totalityHeads-up for Pamplona: the city sees only a deep partial on 12 August 2026 — true totality is in southern Navarra, the Ribera del...Read the guide
Totality
Where to watch the 2026 total solar eclipse in Burgos & Castilla y LeónIn the path of totalityBurgos, León, Valladolid and Soria sit near the centre line — about 1m44s of totality at 20:28 CEST on 12 August 2026, under the...Read the guide
Totality
Where to watch the 2026 total solar eclipse in GaliciaIn the path of totalityA Coruña sees about 1m17s of totality at 20:27 CEST on 12 August 2026, with the Sun 12° up — the highest on the...Read the guide
Totality
Where to watch the 2026 total solar eclipse in MallorcaIn the path of totalityOn 12 August 2026 the Balearics see one of the path's longer totalities — about 1m36s at 20:31 CEST — but with the Sun...Read the guide
Iceland1 guide
The path's big northern landfall — totality high in the evening sky, hours before Spain.
Totality
Where to watch the 2026 total solar eclipse in IcelandIn the path of totalityWestern Iceland sees up to ~2m 13s of totality on 12 August 2026 — the best spots on Snæfellsnes, in the Westfjords and around...Read the guide
France1 guide
A deep partial — up to ~99% in the south-west. True totality is just across the Pyrenees.
Partial
Where to watch the 2026 solar eclipse in FrancePartial eclipseFrance sees a deep partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — up to ~99% in the south-west, ~92% in Paris — low near sunset....Read the guide
Eclipse timings and coverage are approximate and vary by exact location — always check a local forecast and the precise path before you travel.
What you'll actually see
Totality vs a 99% partial — they're worlds apart
It's the single most important thing to get right. A 99% partial eclipse is still daylight; only inside the narrow path of totality does the sky go dark, the temperature drop, and the Sun's corona appear. If you can travel, get into the path.
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The path of totality is a ~290 km-wide band across northern Spain and the Balearics. Step outside it and the Sun never fully disappears.
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Inside the path, day turns to night for up to ~1m 50s — and only during totality itself can you safely look without glasses.
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At 99% partial (Barcelona, Madrid) it stays daylight and you must keep certified glasses on the whole time — no totality, no corona.
Before you look up
You'll need certified glasses for every stage
Solar eclipse glasses are eye-safety equipment (PPE), not sunglasses. Looking at the Sun through ordinary sunglasses — or uncertified filters — can cause permanent damage. You need certified glasses for the long partial phases on either side of totality, wherever in Spain you watch from.
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CE Category II, tested to EN ISO 12312-2 — the real European standard, with a per-pair QR code to verify authenticity.
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Reusable plastic frames keep for the 2 August 2027 eclipse over Spain too.
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One pair per person — they're for direct viewing, never sharing at the same moment.
Where to watch the 2026 eclipse — FAQ
When is the 2026 total solar eclipse in Spain?
12 August 2026, in the late afternoon and early evening. Totality sweeps across northern Spain roughly between 19:30 and 20:30 local time, with the Sun low in the western sky.
Where does the path of totality cross Spain?
It enters over Galicia, then crosses Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, Aragón, the Valencia/Castellón coast and the Balearic Islands. A Coruña, Burgos, Valladolid, Zaragoza, Valencia and Palma de Mallorca all sit inside the path.
Will Madrid and Barcelona see totality?
No. Both see a very deep partial eclipse (around 99%), but they stay just outside the path of totality. To see the Sun fully disappear you'd need to travel north into the band — we map the nearest spots in the regional guides above.
How long does totality last?
Up to roughly 1 minute 50 seconds, depending on exactly where you are. Locations on the centre line of the path get the longest totality; near the edges it's much shorter.
Do I need eclipse glasses for a partial eclipse?
Yes. For every partial stage you must use certified eclipse glasses. Only during the brief total phase, inside the path, can you safely look without them — and you must put them back on the instant the Sun reappears.
Where's the best place to watch?
Anywhere on the centre line with a clear, low western horizon (the Sun sets soon after totality). Inland Castilla y León and the Mediterranean coast are popular — see the regional guides above for specific spots.
What about the weather and clouds in August?
Inland August skies are usually clear, while some coastal and mountain areas carry more cloud risk near sunset. Always have a backup viewing location within the path in case of cloud.
