Parts of Europe and the Arctic are preparing to witness a total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, with its path extending through Greenland, Iceland and Spain, in the first crossing of a total eclipse over the European continent since 1999.
Complete darkness during the event reaches two minutes and 18 seconds, within a narrow path that begins with sunrise in northern Siberia, then crosses Greenland, western Iceland and the Atlantic Ocean, before reaching Spain and the Balearic Islands and ending at sunset.
Several Spanish cities will be among the most prominent viewing locations, including La Coruña, Zaragoza and Palma de Mallorca, in addition to regions in Iceland, including the capital, Reykjavik.
In Spain, the partial eclipse begins at 19:30, while the total eclipse begins at 20:26 and lasts about one minute and 45 seconds, and its duration decreases to one minute and 36 seconds in Palma de Mallorca. As for Reykjavik, the total eclipse will last about 59 seconds.
The event coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, which may allow some meteors to be seen during the dark minutes. Expectations indicate good monitoring conditions in most regions of Spain, in exchange for the possibility of clouds spreading over large parts of Iceland.
Experts stress the necessity of using approved eclipse glasses and not looking directly at the sun, in addition to providing cameras, telescopes and binoculars with safe solar filters.
As for the next total eclipse, it is expected on August 2, 2027, and will cross regions in North Africa and the Middle East, from northern Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt, all the way to western Saudi Arabia and Yemen, with a duration exceeding six minutes.
