Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1108 EAT on Monday 10 August 2026

On August 12, 2026, starting at 15:34 GMT, the Moon’s shadow will sweep across the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland and Spain, temporarily blocking out the Sun for up to two minutes and 18 seconds.

Wednesday’s eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999, with about 15 million people—most of them in Spain—living within the path of totality.

A partial eclipse will be visible across much of Western Europe, parts of northwestern Africa and a small section of the United States. Overall, about 980 million people—nearly one in eight people worldwide—will be able to see the Sun at least partially obscured by the Moon.

For the remaining seven in eight people, Wednesday will pass under an ordinary sky. Enter your location in the tool below to find out when the Moon’s shadow will pass over your area on August 12, whether the eclipse will be visible from your location, and the exact date and time of the next eclipse in your city.

The Sun is about 400 times wider than the Moon and is also roughly 400 times farther from Earth. As a result, the two celestial bodies appear almost the same size in the sky when viewed from Earth—a remarkable coincidence that makes total solar eclipses possible.

How often do solar eclipses occur?

According to NASA, between two and five solar eclipses occur each year, including partial, annular, total and hybrid eclipses.

Total solar eclipses are much rarer, occurring an average of 66 times per century, or roughly once every 18 months.

Of all solar eclipses, about one-third are partial, one-third are annular, slightly more than one-quarter are total, and about 5 per cent are hybrid.

Which countries will see a total solar eclipse?

On August 12, about 15 million people in Spain, Iceland and parts of Greenland, Russia and Portugal will be within the path of totality, where the Moon will completely block the Sun.

In northern and eastern Spain, which are expected to offer prime viewing opportunities, the cities of León, Valladolid, Zaragoza, Teruel and Valencia will lie within the path of totality.

Totality will begin at about 18:27 GMT in western Spain (8:27pm local time) and will last for up to 110 seconds, depending on the exact location.

The densely populated cities of Madrid and Barcelona will fall just outside the path of totality, but observers there will still see more than 99 per cent of the Sun covered by the Moon.

A partial eclipse will be visible across a much wider area. Most of Europe will experience a deep partial eclipse in the evening, with the Sun setting while it is still partly obscured in many locations.

In Paris, about 92 per cent of the Sun will be covered, compared with 91 per cent in London and 85 per cent in Berlin.

For most European cities farther east, the Sun will set before the eclipse reaches its maximum, meaning the deepest phase will not be visible. Parts of North Africa will face a similar limitation. In Algiers, about 98 per cent of the Sun will be covered, while Casablanca will experience about 87 per cent coverage. In both cities, the Sun will set before the eclipse ends.

Across the Atlantic, there is no sunset limitation because the eclipse will occur during the morning and afternoon. However, North America lies well outside the path of totality and will see only a modest portion of the Sun obscured.

In Canada, the northeastern city of St John’s will experience about 53 per cent coverage, compared with 18 per cent in Montreal and just 8 per cent in Toronto.

In the United States, parts of Alaska will experience the deepest eclipse in the country, with about 37 per cent of the Sun covered. Elsewhere, the eclipse will be much less pronounced, with coverage ranging from about 28 per cent in northeastern Maine to 10 per cent in New York, while much of the Midwest will see little to no coverage.

When is the next solar eclipse in your country?

The next total solar eclipse will occur on August 2, 2027, with the path of totality crossing southern Spain, North Africa and Yemen.

Use the widget above to find out when the next solar eclipse will be visible in your city.

-Aljzeera

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