Spain is preparing to observe the first total solar eclipse visible from the Iberian Peninsula in more than a century. The phenomenon will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 12, 2026, and will cross the country from Galicia to the Balearic Islands.
The path of totality will run through the north and east of the Peninsula. In the areas within this band, the Moon will completely obscure the solar disk for just over a minute. In the southern half, the eclipse will be seen partially.
What time will the eclipse be
The eclipse will begin to be observed in Spain around 7:30 PM, although the exact time varies by city. The moment of maximum obscuration will occur between 8:28 PM and 8:32 PM in a large part of the territory.
In A Coruña, the eclipse will begin at 7:31 PM, reach its maximum at 8:28 PM, and end at 9:22 PM. Totality will last 76 seconds. In Burgos, it will start at 7:33 PM and reach its maximum at 8:29 PM. The complete obscuration will last for 104 seconds, one of the most favorable durations among Spanish capitals.
In Palma, the phenomenon will begin at 7:38 PM and reach its maximum at 8:32 PM, a few minutes before sunset. The sun will be very low on the horizon, about two degrees high.
Where it will be seen as a total eclipse
The path of totality will enter Spain through Galicia and advance eastward to the Balearic Islands. It will cross numerous capitals and provinces in the northern half of the peninsula.
Among the cities located within or very close to the path of totality are:
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A Coruña.
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Lugo.
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Oviedo.
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León.
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Zamora.
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Valladolid.
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Burgos.
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Santander.
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Bilbao.
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Vitoria-Gasteiz.
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Logroño.
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Soria.
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Zaragoza.
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Teruel.
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Lleida.
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Tarragona.
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València.
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Castelló de la Plana.
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Palma.
The exact visibility varies even between municipalities in the same province. The National Geographic Institute has a viewer that allows you to check the start time, maximum, duration, and percentage of obscuration in each locality.
How it will be seen from Madrid and the south
Madrid is outside the path of totality, although it will be able to observe a very deep partial eclipse. The phenomenon will begin in the capital at 7:37 PM and reach its maximum around 8:32 PM.
In Andalusia, Extremadura, Murcia, the Canary Islands, and part of Castilla-La Mancha, the Moon will not completely cover the Sun. The percentage of obscuration will be high in many areas, but the total darkness characteristic of the center of the path will not occur.
An eclipse at sunset
The eclipse will occur during sunset. This forces us to look for a place with a clear view to the west, without buildings, mountains or trees obscuring the horizon line.
The National Geographic Institute warns that Spain is located near the end of the eclipse's path. In many locations, the Sun will set before the phenomenon concludes completely.
Meteorological statistics indicate that the peninsular interior and the Ebro valley usually present favorable conditions during those dates. The Cantabrian coast has a higher probability of cloudiness, although the actual forecast will not be known with precision until the days before.
How to observe it safely
The Sun should not be observed directly, not even during the partial phases. Conventional sunglasses, smoked glass, X-rays, cameras, and telescopes without specific filters do not offer adequate protection.
To look at the eclipse, it is necessary to use approved solar observation glasses or indirect projection systems. Binoculars, telescopes, and cameras must incorporate solar filters specifically designed to be placed in front of the lens.
The glasses can only be removed during the totality phase and only in locations where the Sun is completely hidden. They must be put back on as soon as any part of the solar disk reappears.
The next total eclipse
The next total eclipse visible from Spanish territory will occur on August 2, 2027. Its path will mainly cross the south of the Peninsula. In January 2028, an annular eclipse will arrive, completing the so-called triad of Iberian eclipses.
After these phenomena, Spain will not observe another total solar eclipse until 2053.