Total solar eclipse to darken northern Spain and sweep Europe on 12 August 2026

Path of totality

A total solar eclipse will cross the Northern Hemisphere on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, the first visible from continental Europe since 2006. The Moon's shadow will begin in northern Russia around 20:00 Greek time, then sweep across Greenland and Iceland before traversing the Atlantic Ocean and reaching northern Spain. The path of totality will stretch from Oviedo to Palma de Mallorca, passing through Burgos, north of Madrid. A small portion of northeastern Portugal will also experience totality. The Moon's shadow will travel approximately 8,260 kilometres, with most of the path over the Atlantic. The maximum duration of totality, 2 minutes and 18 seconds, will occur in the northern Atlantic near Iceland. In Spain, the Sun will sit low on the horizon, making the phenomenon visually striking though shorter in duration. For continental Spain, it will be the first total solar eclipse to cross the country in more than a century. The path will pass through areas of Spain affected by wildfires in recent years.

Timing and broadcasts

In Spain, totality will peak between 20:26 and 20:33 local time depending on location. In Santander, totality will begin at 20:26:57 Greek time and last approximately one minute. In Bilbao, it will begin at 20:27:23 and last about 31 seconds. In Burgos, totality will last exactly 1 minute and 48 seconds, while the entire eclipse event there will span about 1 hour and 48 minutes. The maximum eclipse point will occur at 17:45:53 UTC. The eclipse will disappear around 21:30 Greek time. A partial eclipse will be visible across a much wider area, including much of Europe, Canada, the northern United States, Siberia, Alaska, and parts of western Africa. The European Space Agency will broadcast live from Spain starting at 19:30 Greek time, with imagery and scientific commentary. NASA will stream the event from 20:15 Greek time, featuring views from different points along the path of totality and discussions with experts.

Visibility from Greece

Greece will sit almost at the edge of the visibility zone. A very limited partial eclipse will be visible only in the northwest of the country, in a roughly 10-minute window between 20:30 and 20:40 Greek time, just before sunset. Corfu will have the best viewing position, with 2.34% of the solar disk covered, the eclipse starting around 20:33 and peaking near 20:37. Igoumenitsa will see 1.29% coverage, Kastoria approximately 1.21%, Ioannina 0.72%, and Ptolemaida about 0.68%. In Athens, the eclipse will not be visible at all, as the Sun sets at 20:22, before the Moon's shadow reaches western Greece. Observers in the northwest will need a completely unobstructed view toward the western horizon, as the Sun will sit extremely low. After the eclipse, a twilight phase and the Perseids meteor shower will follow.

Protective glasses shortage

Across Europe, certified eclipse glasses have been selling out rapidly. In Spain, the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Madrid announced its stocks were exhausted. The museum was one of 30 science museums participating in a government-backed campaign with ONCE, the organisation for visually impaired people, to distribute 2 million pairs free. Pharmacies in Madrid still had some on Tuesday, priced between 3 and 4 euros. In Paris, some pharmacies had completely run out, while others sold pairs at 5.95 euros each or offered two-pair packages for nearly 20 euros. In France generally, prices ranged from 1.50 to 4 euros per pair.

We had no glasses for three days, but this morning we received a large quantity, which should cover us until Wednesday evening.

Carles Sisqueya, an optical shop owner in a tourist town, said he ran out of stock 10 days ago.

There are now many people who, obviously, will not manage to obtain glasses.

Mabel, a resident of Barcelona, told AFP she waited in line at an ONCE kiosk but the last pair was given to another customer.

Health warnings

Ophthalmologists warn that viewing the eclipse without proper protection can cause permanent retinal damage. Glasses must meet the ISO 12312-2 standard and carry CE marking. Dr. Éric Frao, an ophthalmologist and retina specialist, explained that the risk is retinal burns, particularly in the macula, which has a diameter of about 500 micrometres.

If a burn occurs in this area, sharp vision is lost. And this specific damage is irreversible.

After the 1999 total solar eclipse visible in Europe, 1,024 people in France sought medical examination following the event. Two more total solar eclipses will be visible in Spain in the coming years: on 2 August 2027 at the southern tip of the country, and on 26 January 2028 across much of southern Spain.