What time is the solar eclipse on 12 August 2026 in Spain?

Totality crosses Spain between 20:28 and 20:32 (CEST) on 12 August 2026, from A Coruña to Mallorca. The exact time depends on the town: check it on the official viewer of Spain's National Geographic Institute (eclipses.ign.es).

Where will the eclipse be total?

Along a band roughly 290 km wide crossing the peninsula from northwest to southeast: A Coruña, Oviedo, León, Burgos, Soria, Zaragoza, Castellón, Valencia and Mallorca. Totality lasts between one and two minutes depending on the city. Outside the band, all of Spain will see a very deep partial eclipse.

Can I watch the eclipse without glasses?

No — except during the exact minutes of totality, and only inside the band. The rest of the time you need eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2; sunglasses do not protect you, and retinal damage is permanent and painless.

What if it is cloudy?

With clouds you will not see the solar disc, but totality is unmistakable anyway: night falls at once and the temperature drops. If the forecast is bad, moving within the band towards clear skies is your best bet — and there is a second chance in 2027.

When is the next total solar eclipse visible from Spain?

On 2 August 2027, visible from southern Spain. Together with 2026 it forms an exceptional pair of opportunities: two total eclipses over the same country in under a year.

12 · 08 · 2026 — Spain

The first total solar eclipse over mainland Spain since 1905

On 12 August 2026, between 20:28 and 20:32 (CEST), the Moon's shadow sweeps across Spain from northwest to southeast: from A Coruña to Mallorca, daylight switches off at sunset for almost two minutes.

Date: 12 August 2026
Totality: 20:28 – 20:32 CEST
Duration: up to almost 2 min of night in daytime

Times in CEST (Spanish mainland time), approximate per city. Data from Spain's National Geographic Institute: check the exact time for your town at eclipses.ign.es.

The path of totality, city by city

The shadow enters through Galicia and leaves towards the Balearic Islands in barely four minutes, along a band roughly 290 km wide. Only inside that band is the Sun completely covered; everywhere else in Spain the eclipse will be partial — still a very deep one.

A CoruñaTotality approx. 20:28
OviedoTotality approx. 20:28
LeónTotality approx. 20:29
BurgosTotality approx. 20:29
SoriaTotality approx. 20:30
ZaragozaTotality approx. 20:30
CastellónTotality approx. 20:32
ValenciaTotality approx. 20:32
MallorcaTotality approx. 20:32~1 min 36 s of totality

Your city not on the list? Move towards the band if you can: the difference between a 99% partial and totality is, quite literally, night and day.

What you will see

The bite

During the partial phase, the Moon covers the solar disc little by little. The light turns strange and metallic; shadows sharpen.

Totality

The Sun disappears completely and the solar corona appears — a white ring visible to the naked eye only during these minutes. Night falls at once, the temperature drops, and the brightest stars and planets switch on in the middle of sunset.

The return

A first ray of sunlight breaks the ring (the "diamond ring") and the light comes back as fast as it left. From that instant, glasses back on.

This eclipse happens with the Sun already low, close to sunset: find a spot with a clear western horizon, with no buildings or mountains in the way.

Eye safety, no exceptions

Looking at the Sun without protection damages the retina permanently and painlessly. The rules are few and have no small print:

Use eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2, in good condition and bought from a trusted source.
Sunglasses do NOT work. Neither do X-ray films, smoked glass or watching the reflection in water.
Never look at the Sun through a camera, binoculars or a telescope without a dedicated solar filter: they concentrate the light and the damage is instant.
Without glasses, the safe option is projection: a small hole in a piece of cardboard projects the Sun's image onto the ground or a wall.

The one exception: during totality — only inside the band and only during those minutes of totality — it is safe to look with the naked eye. The moment the first ray returns, glasses back on.

What if you miss it?

There is a second chance very close: on 2 August 2027, another total solar eclipse will be visible from southern Spain. Two totalities over the same country in under a year is an exceptional astronomical coincidence.

Meanwhile, up there

That day, all of Spain looks at the same sky

On Stelvia's 3D map, every star can carry someone's signature and message: a wall of dedications pinned to the real sky. Leave yours where everyone will be looking. It is free; all you need is an account.

Leave your signature on a star — free Explore the sky in 3D

Symbolic gift: your signature is a public dedication in the Stelvia catalogue. Neither the signature nor the symbolic name you choose when securing it grants ownership over any star or implies recognition by the IAU, NASA or ESA.

Frequently asked questions

What time is the solar eclipse on 12 August 2026 in Spain?: Totality crosses Spain between 20:28 and 20:32 (CEST) on 12 August 2026, from A Coruña to Mallorca. The exact time depends on the town: check it on the official viewer of Spain's National Geographic Institute (eclipses.ign.es).
Where will the eclipse be total?: Along a band roughly 290 km wide crossing the peninsula from northwest to southeast: A Coruña, Oviedo, León, Burgos, Soria, Zaragoza, Castellón, Valencia and Mallorca. Totality lasts between one and two minutes depending on the city. Outside the band, all of Spain will see a very deep partial eclipse.
Can I watch the eclipse without glasses?: No — except during the exact minutes of totality, and only inside the band. The rest of the time you need eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2; sunglasses do not protect you, and retinal damage is permanent and painless.
What if it is cloudy?: With clouds you will not see the solar disc, but totality is unmistakable anyway: night falls at once and the temperature drops. If the forecast is bad, moving within the band towards clear skies is your best bet — and there is a second chance in 2027.
When is the next total solar eclipse visible from Spain?: On 2 August 2027, visible from southern Spain. Together with 2026 it forms an exceptional pair of opportunities: two total eclipses over the same country in under a year.