On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, Spain will be one of the few places in Europe to witness a total solar eclipse, with totality reaching León and the northeastern tip of Portugal shortly before sunset. The path runs from Arctic regions through eastern Greenland and Iceland, crosses the North Atlantic and northern Iberian Peninsula, then ends over the western Mediterranean. NASA-derived calculations place the greatest eclipse at 17:45:53.8 UT, over the North Atlantic at approximately 65.225°N, 25.228°W. The Moon’s shadow will race across Earth at about 3,700 km/h, while the umbral path will reach up to 294 kilometres wide. At its longest, basic totality will last about 2 minutes 18.2 seconds, though the duration varies along the track.
Elsewhere, a partial eclipse will be visible across much of Europe and northwestern Africa, as well as parts of North America, from Alaska and Canada to the northeastern United States. The extent of coverage will vary by location: New York is expected to see about 10% of the Sun obscured, while the United Kingdom will experience up to 95%. In Spain, the partial phase will continue after totality, with the Sun setting as a crescent in many areas. The European Space Agency plans to broadcast a livestream from the Astrophysical Observatory of Javalambre in Teruel, while NASA will provide live coverage from across the eclipse path starting at 1:15 p.m. ET.
In León, totality is expected at about 8:28 p.m. local time and will last roughly two minutes, with the partial phase continuing as the Sun approaches the horizon. Calculations place totality at around 8:29 p.m. in Zaragoza and 8:32 p.m. in Valencia. The longest totality, about 2 minutes 18 seconds, will occur near the point of greatest eclipse in the North Atlantic, not in Spain. For many observers in the country, the eclipse will coincide with sunset, so the horizon may cut short the remaining partial phase. Solar astrophysicist Dr. Ryan French has chosen to observe the event north of Madrid, prioritizing clearer skies over a longer period of totality.
Experts urge people to use certified eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers whenever any part of the Sun is visible, including before and after totality. Looking directly at the Sun without protection is safe only during the brief interval when the Moon completely covers it. The eclipse begins with the Moon appearing to take a visible “bite” out of the Sun, followed by partial phases that can last up to 80 minutes. As totality approaches, Baily’s beads and the “diamond ring” effect may appear, followed by the Sun’s corona, a faint, silvery glow around the Moon. Atmospheric conditions, including wildfire smoke, can affect how clearly the corona appears and how it looks to cameras.
The air may cool, and animals may behave differently. Bright stars or planets such as Venus may suddenly appear. The chromosphere, a thin pink ring around the Moon, may also be visible. Once totality ends, eclipse glasses must go back on as soon as the Sun re-emerges. Those hoping to capture the event may also want to record friends and family reacting to it.
The Perseids meteor shower will peak between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. NASA will host a live watch party on YouTube from midnight ET on August 13. The overlap of the two astronomical events is expected to make the night sky memorable for observers in Spain and beyond. For more on how Spanish regions are preparing for the influx of eclipse watchers and taking steps to ensure safety, see the detailed coverage of regional preparations for the eclipse in Catalonia.
The next major total solar eclipse visible from Spain is expected on August 2, 2027, when the path of totality will cross southern Spain and several countries in North Africa and the Middle East. Totality will last over six minutes in some locations. Wednesday’s event gives residents and visitors in northern Spain a rare chance to experience one of nature’s most striking spectacles.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow that completely blocks sunlight along a narrow path. Partial eclipses, in which only part of the Sun is obscured, occur more often but are less dramatic. The last total solar eclipse visible from mainland Spain occurred in 2005, making this week’s event especially impressive for astronomers and the public.
