Total Solar Eclipse — August 12, 2026
On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will be visible from Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Spain. First total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe in decades. Here is what will happen, who can see it, and how to watch it.
- Date
- Type
- Total Solar Eclipse
- Visible from
- Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Spain
August 12, 2026 brings the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe in a generation. The Moon’s shadow will race across the Arctic, sweep over Greenland and Iceland, and then make landfall in northern Spain — putting totality within easy reach of tens of millions of Europeans.
During totality, day turns to an eerie twilight for a few precious minutes. The Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, streams into view around the black disc of the Moon. Temperatures drop, birds go quiet, and bright stars and planets pop out at midday. It is the single most dramatic natural sight most people will ever witness.
Iceland sits near the centerline, making Reykjavik and the island’s dramatic landscapes a prime destination — though August weather there is famously fickle, so eclipse chasers often plan mobility. Northern Spain offers historically better odds of clear skies along the path.
Eye safety is non-negotiable: certified eclipse glasses must stay on through every partial phase. They come off only during the brief window of totality itself, when the Sun is completely covered — and go straight back on the instant the first bead of sunlight reappears.
Frequently asked questions
Will the 2026-08-12 eclipse be visible where I live?
This eclipse is visible from Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Spain. If your location is outside that zone, you will not see even the partial phases — consider following a live stream instead of traveling blind.
Do I need eclipse glasses?
Yes — for every moment except the brief window of totality (total eclipses only). Annular and partial solar eclipses are never safe to view with the naked eye. Use certified eclipse glasses or a proper solar filter on optics.
What time does the eclipse happen?
Eclipse times are quoted in Universal Time and convert differently for every time zone. Use our time zone converter on the day to translate the maximum-eclipse instant into your local time.