A total solar eclipse will sweep across parts of the Northern Hemisphere on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, bringing a brief period of darkness to locations along a narrow path crossing northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain and a small area of northeastern Portugal.
The event will also be visible as a partial solar eclipse across a much wider region, including much of Europe, parts of North America and northwestern Africa.
Where Will the Total Solar Eclipse Be Visible?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, completely covering the visible face of the Sun for observers located within the path of totality.
According to NASA, the August 12 eclipse will begin in the far north, with the path of totality passing through northern Russia before travelling across the Arctic and North Atlantic. It will then cross Greenland and western Iceland before reaching northern Spain and a small part of northeastern Portugal.
The European Space Agency says eastern Greenland, western Iceland and the northern half of Spain will be among the main regions where observers can experience totality. Reykjavik is also within the total eclipse path.
At locations near the optimum part of the eclipse path, totality can last for up to approximately two minutes and 18 seconds on the ground. During this period, the Moon will completely block the bright surface of the Sun, allowing the much fainter solar corona to become visible.
A Partial Eclipse Across a Much Wider Area
Observers do not need to be within the path of totality to see the eclipse.
NASA says a partial solar eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, most of Canada, parts of the northern United States and northwestern Africa. The amount of the Sun covered by the Moon will depend on the observer’s location.
Across much of Europe, the eclipse will take place late in the day, giving observers in some locations the unusual opportunity to see the partially eclipsed Sun approaching the western horizon.
How to Watch the Eclipse Safely
Safe viewing is essential during any solar eclipse.
NASA advises observers never to look directly at the Sun during the partial phases of an eclipse without appropriate solar viewing protection. Ordinary sunglasses, regardless of how dark they are, do not provide adequate protection.
Special eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers designed for direct solar observation should be used whenever any part of the bright solar surface remains visible.
Only observers located inside the path of totality may briefly view the eclipse without solar glasses, and only during the period when the Moon completely covers the Sun. Eye protection must be used again as soon as the bright surface of the Sun begins to reappear.
Cameras, binoculars and telescopes also require specialised solar filters. Eclipse glasses should not be used as a substitute for filters placed over optical equipment.
Total eclipse
| City | Partial Begins | Totality Begins | Totality Ends | Partial Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| León (Spain) | 7:32 p.m. | 8:28 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:22 p.m. |
| Reykjavík (Iceland) | 4:47 p.m. | 5:48 p.m. | 5:49 p.m. | 6:47 p.m. |
| Valencia (Spain) | 7:38 p.m. | 8:32 p.m. | 8:33 p.m. | 9:01 p.m. * |
| Zaragoza (Spain) | 7:34 p.m. | 8:29 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:07 p.m. * |
Partial eclipse
| City | Partial Begins | Maximum | Coverage | Partial Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, Alaska (USA) | 7:36 a.m. | 8:21 a.m. | 28% | 9:09 a.m. |
| Bangor, Maine (USA) | 12:54 p.m. | 1:53 p.m. | 24% | 2:49 p.m. |
| Boston, Mass. (USA) | 1:01 p.m. | 1:55 p.m. | 16% | 2:46 p.m. |
| Detroit, Michigan (USA) | 1:03 p.m. | 1:36 p.m. | 3% | 2:08 p.m. |
| Fairbanks, Alaska (USA) | 7:37 a.m. | 8:27 a.m. | 37% | 9:18 a.m. |
| Juneau, Alaska (USA) | 7:41 a.m. | 8:24 a.m. | 17% | 9:08 a.m. |
| New York, New York (USA) | 1:07 p.m. | 1:54 p.m. | 9% | 2:38 p.m. |
| Philadelphia, Penn. (USA) | 1:11 p.m. | 1:53 p.m. | 7% | 2:35 p.m. |
| Portland, Maine (USA) | 12:57 p.m. | 1:53 p.m. | 19% | 2:27 p.m. |
| Washington, D.C. (USA) | 1:17 p.m. | 1:53 p.m. | 4% | 2:27 p.m. |
| Algiers (Algeria) | 6:42 p.m. | 7:33 p.m. | 96% | 7:42 p.m. * |
| Barcelona (Spain) | 7:35 p.m. | 8:29 p.m. | 99% | 8:54 p.m. * |
| Berlin (Germany) | 7:15 p.m. | 8:08 p.m. | 85% | 8:38 p.m. * |
| Casablanca (Morocco) | 6:48 p.m. | 7:43 p.m. | 87% | 8:20 p.m. * |
| Dakar (Senegal) | 6:25 p.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 37% | 7:34 p.m. * |
| Dublin (Ireland) | 6:12 p.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 94% | 8:05 p.m. |
| Edmonton (Canada) | 10:02 a.m. | 10:38 a.m. | 6% | 11:15 a.m. |
| Halifax (Canada) | 1:58 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 31% | 3:58 p.m. |
| Kraków (Poland) | 7:18 p.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 64% | 8:04 p.m. * |
| Lisbon (Portugal) | 6:39 p.m. | 7:36 p.m. | 95% | 8:29 p.m. |
| London (U.K.) | 6:17 p.m. | 7:13 p.m. | 91% | 8:06 p.m. |
| Madrid (Spain) | 7:36 p.m. | 8:32 p.m. | 99% | 9:16 p.m. * |
| Milan (Italy) | 7:27 p.m. | 8:20 p.m. | 92% | 8:35 p.m. * |
| Montreal (Canada) | 12:50 p.m. | 1:45 p.m. | 18% | 2:38 p.m. |
| Nuuk (Greenland) | 3:30 p.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 79% | 5:39 p.m. |
| Oslo (Norway) | 7:02 p.m. | 7:57 p.m. | 83% | 8:49 p.m. |
| Paris (France) | 7:22 p.m. | 8:17 p.m. | 92% | 9:09 p.m. |
| St. John’s (Canada) | 2:28 p.m. | 3:35 p.m. | 53% | 4:37 p.m. |
| Saint Petersburg (Russia) | 7:59 p.m. | 8:51 p.m. | 79% | 9:00 p.m. * |
| Stockholm (Sweden) | 7:03 p.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 81% | 8:46 p.m. * |
| Toronto (Canada) | 12:55 p.m. | 1:40 p.m. | 8% | 2:23 p.m. |
| Tunis (Tunisia) | 6:41 p.m. | 7:11 p.m. | 50% | 7:14 p.m. * |
| Vienna (Austria) | 7:22 p.m. | 8:10 p.m. | 85% | 8:13 p.m. * |
| Winnipeg (Canada) | 11:25 a.m. | 12:02 p.m. | 5% | 12:40 p.m. |
ESA to Broadcast the Eclipse
For people outside the eclipse path, the European Space Agency is preparing live coverage of the August 12 event through ESA Web TV.
ESA will also host a public eclipse event in León, northern Spain, bringing together scientists, engineers and astronomy specialists for observations and activities surrounding the eclipse.
The August 12 eclipse is also the first of several major solar eclipses that will be visible from parts of Europe over the coming years. Another total solar eclipse will cross Spain on August 2, 2027, followed by an annular solar eclipse visible from Portugal and Spain on January 26, 2028.
Source: NASA
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