Atlantic coast of Galicia near A Coruña — total solar eclipse, 12 August 2026

Eclipse solar total · 12 de agosto de 2026

Onde ver o eclipse solar total de 2026 na Galiza

Galicia is among the first parts of mainland Spain to fall under totality on 12 August 2026. A Coruna sees about 1m 17s of darkness at 20:27 CEST, with the Sun unusually high at 12 degrees - the catch is that this is the cloudiest corner of Spain.

In the path of totality
Totality begins20:27 CESTA Coruna - 12 Aug 2026
Duration~1m 17sup to ~1m 24s inland (Lugo)
Sun altitude~12°low in the west, near sunset
Coverage100%total - corona visible
Clear-sky odds Risky · ≈45%The cloudiest, wettest corner of Spain: ~60% average August cloud on the NW coast, clearly visible on only about half of past 12 Augusts. The high Sun helps, but the Atlantic sky has the final say.
Counting down to totality
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On 12 August 2026 the Moon's shadow sweeps in off the Atlantic over Galicia, making the north-west among the first of mainland Spain to fall under totality. A Coruna, the Costa da Morte and the northern coast go dark in the early evening. The draw here is a genuinely high Sun - about 12 degrees up at totality, the best horizon odds on the whole Spanish path - so you are far less dependent on a perfectly flat skyline than viewers further east.

Below: the precise timeline, the strongest coastal vantage points, an honest read on Galicia's famously cloudy 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
20:27 CESTTotality — ~1m 17s. Glasses off only if total.
~21:20Sun sets with the partial phase still in progress

The good news is the Sun sits about 12 degrees above the western horizon at totality - the highest anywhere on the Spanish path - so a low ridge or building is less likely to spoil the view than further east. The bad news is cloud: keep a close eye on the final-days forecast and be ready to move inland or east.

Where to set up

The best places to watch

A Coruna

~1m 17s

Easiest access - Tower of Hercules headland

The classic vantage point: the Tower of Hercules headland gives an open sea horizon to the west with the eclipsed Sun about 12 degrees up. Easy to reach and well served, so expect crowds - scout your western view in advance and watch the coastal cloud forecast closely.

Fisterra

~1m 17s

Open ocean horizon - Atlantic cloud risk

Cape Finisterre is as far west as mainland Spain goes, with a wide, unbroken Atlantic horizon - dramatic if the sky is clear. But this exposed coast is exactly where August sea mist and low cloud are most likely to roll in at the worst moment. A spectacular gamble; have an inland fallback ready.

Costa da Morte

~1m 17s

Clifftops and headlands - sea horizon

The Coast of Death offers clifftops, headlands and beaches with open sea to the west right along the path. Beautiful and uncrowded compared with the city, but remote, with limited facilities and the same Atlantic cloud risk - pick an elevated headland clear of hills and keep the forecast in view.

Malpica de Bergantinos

~1m 17s

West-facing fishing town - sea horizon

A west-facing fishing town on the Costa da Morte with harbour and beach views straight out to the Atlantic. Smaller and quieter than A Coruna, with a genuinely open western horizon - but as an exposed coastal spot it carries the full Atlantic cloud and mist risk.

Carballo

~1m 18s

Slightly inland - find elevated ground

A short way inland between A Coruna and the Costa da Morte, Carballo lets you trade the full clifftop exposure for slightly steadier skies while staying inside the path. The Sun is high enough here that you do not strictly need a sea horizon - find elevated ground clear of hills to the west.

Strong vantage points cluster along the coast: A Coruna's Tower of Hercules headland, the Costa da Morte, Fisterra, Malpica de Bergantinos and slightly inland Carballo - each with an open western view.

The weather call

Will the sky be clear?

This is the hard part. Galicia is the cloudiest, wettest corner of Spain, and the satellite record for this date is sobering: the north-west coast carries roughly 60% average cloud cover, and on past 12 Augusts the eclipse would have been clearly visible only about half the time.

August evenings can bring coastal cloud and sea mist rolling in off the Atlantic right when the Sun is lowest - exactly the wrong moment.

It is a beautiful place to watch if the sky cooperates - but you should treat clear skies as a hope, not a plan.

Have a backup inland or east: the Castilla y Leon meseta has far better odds. Watch the forecast closely in the final days, and be willing to drive on the morning of the eclipse if the coast is socked in.

Plan the day

Your eclipse-day checklist

  • Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE eclipse glasses - one pair per person, no exceptions.
  • Pick a west-facing coastal spot, or just elevated open ground - the high Sun is forgiving of obstructions.
  • Arrive 2-3 hours early. Expect road closures and full car parks near popular headlands.
  • Have a fallback location inland or east in case coastal cloud rolls in.
  • Watch the cloud forecast obsessively in the final 48 hours - it is the single biggest variable here.
  • 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 about 77 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

Galicia eclipse FAQ

Is Galicia in the path of totality?
Yes. The Moon's shadow comes in off the Atlantic and makes Galicia among the first parts of mainland Spain to fall under totality. A Coruna, the Costa da Morte and the northern coast all sit inside the path of totality on 12 August 2026.
What time is the eclipse in Galicia?
The partial phase opens around 19:35 CEST and deepens for nearly an hour. In A Coruna, totality runs from 20:27:40 to 20:28:57 CEST. Inland, Lugo gets a touch longer at roughly 1 minute 24 seconds.
How long does totality last in Galicia?
About 1 minute 17 seconds in A Coruna. Inland towards Lugo it stretches to roughly 1 minute 24 seconds. It is short, so plan to be settled and watching well before 20:27 CEST.
What are the chances of clear skies in Galicia?
Honestly, not great. Galicia is the cloudiest, wettest corner of Spain. The north-west coast carries roughly 60% average cloud cover for this date, and on past 12 Augusts the eclipse would have been clearly visible only about half the time. August evenings can bring coastal cloud and sea mist right when the Sun is lowest. Have a backup plan inland or east, where the odds are far better.
How high will the Sun be during totality?
About 12 degrees above the western horizon, which is the highest of anywhere on the Spanish path. That is Galicia's real advantage: a low obstruction such as a ridge or building is less likely to spoil the view here than further east, so a clear sea horizon matters less than the cloud does.
Do I need eclipse glasses in Galicia?
Yes. Use CE-certified, ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses for every moment of the partial phase. Only during the roughly 77 seconds of totality itself, once the Sun is fully covered, can you safely look unaided. Put the glasses back on the instant the Sun's edge reappears.

Keep exploring the path

Nearby regions to watch from

● Partial

France

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Iceland

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Valencia & Castellón

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Fontes: timeanddate.com · nationaleclipse.com · eclipsophile.com (meteorologia) · Gobierno de Aragón · BBC Sky at Night. Os horários são locais (CEST).