One month from today, millions will turn their eyes to the skies for one of the most anticipated skywatching events of the year: the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026.
The eclipse will sweep across parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain, briefly turning day into night for those lucky enough to be within the narrow path of totality.
It’s been a long time coming for European skywatchers, as the event marks Europe’s first total solar eclipse since 1999.
Where can I see the total solar eclipse?
If you’re hoping to experience totality, now is the time to finalize your plans. The path of totality crosses Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain, with maximum eclipse lasting up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds.
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Spain is expected to be one of the most popular destinations thanks to its favorable weather prospects, though it’s not without a catch! Viewers will need to secure a clear view of the western horizon because the eclipsed sun will sit very low in the sky during totality.
Location | Totality duration | What time? | Sun height |
|---|---|---|---|
Scoresby Sund, Greenland | 1 minute, 46 seconds | 4:35 p.m. CGST | 24 degrees above west |
Reykjavik, Iceland | 1 minute, 1 second | 5:48 p.m. GMT | 25 degrees above west |
Snæfellsjökull National Park, Iceland | 2 minutes, 10 seconds | 5:45 p.m. GMT | 25 degrees above west |
Gijón, Spain | 1 minute, 46 seconds | 8:26 p.m. CEST | 10 degrees above west-northwest |
A Coruña, Spain | 1 minute, 15 seconds | 8:27 p.m. CEST | 12 degrees above west-northwest |
Palencia, Spain | 1 minute, 42 seconds | 8:29 p.m. CEST | 9 degrees above west-northwest |
Burgos, Spain | 1 minute, 44 seconds | 8:28 p.m. CEST | 8 degrees above west-northwest |
Segovia, Spain | 54 seconds | 8:31 p.m. CEST | 8 degrees above west-northwest |
Sigüenza, Spain | 1 minute, 38 seconds | 8:30 p.m. CEST | 7 degrees above west-northwest |
Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain | 1 minute, 36 seconds | 8:31 p.m. CEST | 2.7 degrees above west-northwest |
Will I see the eclipse from where I live?
Not inside the path of totality? Don’t worry. A spectacular partial solar eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, with more than 90% of the sun covered from locations including London, Paris and Dublin.
Location | % of sun’s disk covered |
|---|---|
New York City | 9% |
St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada | 53% |
Nuuk, Greenland | 79% |
Oslo, Norway | 83% |
Berlin, Germany | 84% |
London, U.K. | 91% |
Paris, France | 92% |
Tangier, Morocco | 92% |
Dublin, Ireland | 94% |
Lisbon, Portugal | 94% |
Nice, France | 95% |
Madrid, Spain | 99.96% |
Barcelona, Spain | 99.82% |
If you’re still deciding where to watch, we have several guides on the best viewing locations close to popular Spanish holiday destinations, the best Spanish beaches, and the best places to view the eclipse overall.
How we will be covering the eclipse
Over the coming weeks, Space.com will bring you everything you need to prepare for eclipse day. We’ll publish viewing guides, safety advice and information on how to watch the eclipse online.
Closer to the event, we’ll launch a dedicated live blog covering the latest eclipse news and insights from our reporters in the field.
Skywatching Editor Daisy Dobrijevic will join an eclipse expedition to Greenland with HX, while Skywatching Writer Anthony Wood will travel to northern Spain with the DEB initiative and citizen scientists to report firsthand from the path of totality.
