2026 Total Solar Eclipse Crosses Greenland, Iceland and Spain
On 12 August 2026, a total solar eclipse sweeps across Greenland, Iceland and Spain, the first visible from mainland Spain since 1905, with NASA and ESA offering guidance and events.
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The total solar eclipse of 12 August 2026 is now underway, with the Moon's shadow crossing the North Atlantic and bringing darkness to a narrow path that includes Greenland, Iceland and Spain. According to NASA, the path of totality also reaches into parts of Russia and Portugal, making it a rare spectacle for western Europe. The European Space Agency (ESA) lists the same core regions—Greenland, Iceland, and northeastern Portugal and Spain—as the areas where the eclipse will be total.
For mainland Spain, this is the first total eclipse visible from its soil since 1905, a gap of more than 120 years. The eclipse's path in 2026 includes only a handful of land areas in the Northern Hemisphere, among them parts of Iceland and Spain, according to NASA's map. The Moon's shadow first crosses the Arctic Circle from northern Russia, then tracks along eastern Greenland before reaching Iceland and later Spain.
In Iceland, totality begins at approximately 17:45 UTC (5:45 p.m. local time) in the western fringes, with the greatest eclipse occurring near the Snæfellsnes peninsula. That region is home to the ice-covered Snæfellsjökull volcano, which last erupted roughly 1,800 years ago and is a highlight of the national park, making it a prime viewing spot. The peninsula was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2025, adding to its appeal for eclipse chasers.
After leaving Iceland, the umbra reaches northern Spain shortly before sunset, running east-southeast like the Ebro River. The Ebro River delta on the Mediterranean coast between Barcelona and Valencia lies about 400 kilometers from the river's source, and the eclipse path follows this course. Based on satellite measurements, viewers in Spain have a higher likelihood of a clear view than those in Iceland, offering better odds for observing the event.
For those outside the path of totality, a partial eclipse will be visible across the rest of Europe, parts of Africa, Canada, and the northern and northeastern United States. In the UK, the partial eclipse will cover up to 96% of the sun, the deepest such coverage since 1999.
To help skywatchers, NASA and ESA have provided viewing guidance and are hosting events. ESA is broadcasting the eclipse live from the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre, and together with the City and University of León, it is organizing a free in-person event featuring interactive workshops, talks and live observations. This follows the previous total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, which crossed North America, reminding enthusiasts of the rarity of such celestial alignments.