A total solar eclipse will darken skies across Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal on Aug. 12, 2026. The astronomical event occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, blocking solar light and casting a shadow across the planet.
The event marks the first time in 28 months that totality will be visible anywhere on Earth. The last total solar eclipse occurred on April 8, 2024, when the lunar shadow crossed Mexico, the United States, and Canada. While total solar eclipses take place somewhere on Earth roughly every 16 months, the gap between 2024 and 2026 is longer than average.
According to astronomical tracking website timeanddate.com, the event carries historical significance for Europe. Continental Europe last experienced totality on Aug. 11, 1999, when the path stretched from France to Bulgaria. Since 1999, totality on the continent has only been visible from northern areas, including Svalbard and the Faroe Islands in 2015, as well as portions of Georgia and Russia in 2006.
Path of totality and partial visibility
The path of totality will begin in far northern Russia before crossing Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. The Moon shadow will also reach a fifth country, clipping a small area in northeastern Portugal.
Most of Europe will experience a partial eclipse outside the main path. In Madrid, roughly 99.9 percent of the Sun will be covered. Dublin will see 94 percent coverage, Paris 92.1 percent, London 91.4 percent, and Berlin 84.8 percent.
The eclipse will also be visible from parts of North America and Africa. In New York, the Moon will cover about 9.4 percent of the Sun, peaking at 1:54 p.m. local time. In Casablanca, Morocco, coverage will reach 86.9 percent.
Estimates indicate about 980 million people live in areas where some phase of the eclipse will be visible. Roughly 15.2 million people reside directly inside the path of totality, representing about one in eight people globally.
Viewing conditions and polar trajectory
Because the trajectory grazes the upper Northern Hemisphere, scientists classify it as a polar eclipse. As a result, the Sun will remain relatively low above the horizon throughout the path of totality.
Near Iceland, where totality will last longest, the eclipse will reach a maximum duration of 2 minutes and 19 seconds with the Sun 26 degrees above the horizon. In Valencia, Spain, near the end of the path, the Sun will sit at just 4.6 degrees when totality begins at approximately 8:32 p.m. Observers in Spain will need a clear western horizon free of buildings, trees, or mountains.
The polar path will create rare viewing conditions in northern Greenland, where the Sun normally stays above the horizon continuously during summer. The temporary darkness during totality will allow stars and planets to become visible during the polar day.
Perseid meteor shower and live broadcasts
The August 2026 event is the first of three major total solar eclipses occurring in under two years. On Aug. 2, 2027, a total eclipse will cross southern Spain, northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Somali Peninsula. A third total eclipse will follow on July 22, 2028, crossing Australia and New Zealand, with totality lasting up to 3 minutes and 48 seconds over Sydney Harbour.
The eclipse will also coincide with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on the night of Aug. 12 to Aug. 13. Because solar eclipses occur during a new Moon, surrounding nights feature dark skies, offering skywatchers an opportunity to view meteors under favorable conditions following the daytime eclipse.
For viewers outside the path of totality, NASA and the European Space Agency will stream the event live online. The broadcasts will feature real-time footage from Spain and Iceland, expert interviews, and views along the shadow path.
