A total solar eclipse will cross Spain from west to east on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, briefly turning day into night across a wide stretch of the north of the country during the late afternoon and evening.
Totality will be visible from numerous Spanish provinces, but the experience will be shaped by one key factor: the sun will be very low on the horizon when the moon finishes covering it. Anyone hoping to see it will need a clear view to the west, not just a spot inside the path of totality. Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN) considers this the first total solar eclipse visible from the Iberian peninsula in more than a century.
When the eclipse will happen
The eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026. In Spain it will begin to be seen from around 7:31 p.m., though the exact time will depend on location.
Globally, the full phenomenon will stretch over several hours. It will begin at 17:34 peninsular time over the Bering Sea and end at 21:58 over the Atlantic Ocean, a span of about 264 minutes, or just under four and a half hours. The totality phase that most people are waiting for will be far shorter. At its point of maximum duration, near Iceland, it will last 2 minutes and 18 seconds. In Spain the duration will be shorter and will vary depending on the observer's position.
Path of totality across Spain
The band of totality will cross Spain from west to east, entering through Galicia and advancing across the north of the peninsula until it reaches the Mediterranean and the Balearic Islands. The IGN says the eclipse will be total across almost all of the northern half of the peninsula, while much of the southern half will see only a partial eclipse.
The path will pass over numerous provincial capitals, including A Coruña, Oviedo, León, Bilbao, Zaragoza and València, before leaving the peninsula and continuing toward the Balearics.
The path of totality will affect, fully or partially, territories in Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, the Basque Country, Navarre, La Rioja, the Community of Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, Aragón, the Valencian Community, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. The exact band does not match the full boundaries of each region, so in some cases only part of a territory will see totality. The IGN has specific information available for each municipality.
Timing city by city
The time will shift slightly as the moon's shadow moves from west to east. Galicia will be the first Spanish region to see the eclipse, while the Balearics will be among the last places in the country where it can be observed. In A Coruña, for example, it will begin at 7:31 p.m., reach its maximum at 8:28 p.m. and end around 9:22 p.m. At the other end of the path, Palma will begin observing the eclipse around 7:38 p.m. and reach its maximum near 8:32 p.m.
NASA has also confirmed timings for several of Spain's major cities. In Madrid and Barcelona the eclipse will be partial, meaning there will be no phase of totality. NASA calculates a maximum coverage of 99% in both cities, but that is not the same as a total eclipse.
How long totality will last
Totality will not last the same length of time across the whole band. In A Coruña the moon will fully cover the sun for 76 seconds. In Burgos totality will reach 104 seconds.
NASA puts totality in León between 8:28 and 8:30 p.m., while in Zaragoza it will occur between 8:29 and 8:30 p.m. In València it will fall between 8:32 and 8:33 p.m. The difference may look small, but in a total eclipse every second counts, so anyone traveling to see totality should pay attention not just to the city but to their exact position within the band.
Best places to watch
There is no single right answer, but everyone will need a clear horizon to the west. Spain sits near the end of the eclipse's path, so the sun will be very low, close to setting, when totality arrives. In A Coruña, totality will occur with the sun at about 12 degrees of altitude; in Burgos, about 8 degrees. In Palma, at the moment of maximum, the sun will be just 2 degrees above the horizon.
That makes beaches, viewpoints, elevated ground and open, west-facing spaces especially attractive options. Being inside the map of totality is not enough on its own. A building, a mountain, trees or any obstacle toward the sunset could block the sun during precisely the most important minutes.
Madrid and Barcelona: partial only
In Madrid, the eclipse will begin around 7:36 p.m. and reach its maximum at 8:32 p.m., with about 99% of the sun's diameter covered. The partial phase will end near 9:16 p.m., though the sun will set before it fully concludes.
In Barcelona, it will begin at 7:35 p.m., reach its maximum around 8:29 p.m. with coverage close to 99%, and end before 9:00 p.m. The difference between 99% coverage and totality matters: only inside the band of totality will observers experience complete darkening and be able to look directly at the sun during those brief moments without eye protection.
Why this eclipse is special
The Iberian peninsula has not seen a total solar eclipse since 1912, according to the IGN. The 2026 eclipse will end a wait of more than a century and will also open an unusually rich sequence of eclipses visible from Spain.
After the August 12, 2026 eclipse, another total solar eclipse will follow on August 2, 2027, though its band of totality will be concentrated in the southern tip of the peninsula, Ceuta and Melilla. The cycle will continue with an annular solar eclipse on January 26, 2028. After that, Spain will have to wait until 2053 to see another total solar eclipse.
How to watch safely
The spectacle should not overshadow the main rule: never look directly at the sun during the partial phases without proper protection. NASA recommends using certified solar viewing glasses or solar viewers that meet the relevant safety standards. Ordinary sunglasses do not protect the eyes during an eclipse.
Care is also needed with optical instruments. The sun should not be viewed through a telescope, binoculars or camera using only eclipse glasses, since that equipment requires specific solar filters fitted to the front of the instrument. During the brief phase of totality, when the moon fully covers the solar disc, it will be safe to look directly at the eclipse. Protection must be used again before any part of the sun reappears.
What happens to the sky during totality
When the moon fully covers the sun, daylight will fall suddenly and the sky will take on a twilight appearance. If conditions are favorable, some of the brightest objects in the sky may become visible.
One of the main features will be the solar corona, the sun's outer atmosphere, which is normally hidden by the intense brightness of its surface. It is precisely that sudden transformation of the landscape that makes a total eclipse a different experience from a partial one. Totality lasts only a few minutes, but its effects can begin to be felt earlier, as the moon covers an increasing proportion of the solar disc.
Visible from the United States?
Yes, but only as a partial eclipse. NASA says the August 12 eclipse will be partially visible from parts of the northern United States, from Alaska to areas of North Carolina, as well as from much of Canada. Coverage in the United States will be far lower than in Spain and will depend on location.
NASA calculates a maximum coverage of 28% in Anchorage, 37% in Fairbanks, 16% in Boston and just 9% in New York. Totality itself will not reach the continental United States.
Live broadcast
Yes. NASA will broadcast the eclipse live through NASA Live, with images from different points along the path and commentary from experts. Coverage will begin at 1:15 p.m. EDT on August 12, according to NASA's official schedule. For those outside the band of totality or unable to travel, it will offer a way to follow the eclipse from anywhere with an internet connection.
Next total eclipse visible from Spain
The next total eclipse visible from Spain will arrive just a year later, on August 2, 2027. Its path will be different, with totality concentrated in the south of the peninsula, with Ceuta, Melilla, Cádiz and Málaga among the highlighted locations. After the annular eclipse of January 26, 2028, the wait will be much longer, with Spain not seeing another total solar eclipse until 2053.
