Mainland Europe’s first total solar eclipse since 1999 is just 850 days away. Where will you be? As excitement dies down from the “Great American Eclipse,” eclipse chasers are turning their attention to Wednesday, August 12, 2026, when a 183-190-mile-wide moon shadow moves across remote Siberia, Greenland, Iceland and Spain.
About 15 million people live within the path—about a third of last Monday—but this will be a special eclipse for the countries it crosses. For Iceland, it’s the first total solar eclipse since 1954, while for Spain, it will be the first of two in a row, with the south of the country destined to again fall under the moon’s umbral shadow on August 2, 2027. Technically, the path touches Russia and Portugal.
Things to consider for this eclipse include clouds—as always (tip: stay away from the coasts for the best chance of clear skies)—and the height of the eclipsed sun, which will never be higher than 26 degrees. In Spain, the eclipse will occur close to sunset when the sun is between 10 degrees and 2 degrees above the horizon. So, a clear view to the southwest will be required. That rules out Spain’s east coast—ironically, where masses of hotels are situated.
Here’s where to see the 2026 total solar eclipse:
1. Scoresby Sund, Greenland
1 minute 46 seconds totality, 55% chance of cloud
The coasts of Greenland and Iceland and the north coast of Spain are predicted to be cloudy, but cruise ships in Scoresby Sun—west of Ittoqqortoormiit—may well have a clear view.
2. Grótta Lighthouse, Reykjavik, Iceland
1-minute 1-second totality, 76% chance of cloud
This lighthouse is close to the center of Iceland’s capital city, making it a popular place for aurora viewing (which you may see if you stay up very late on the nights either side of the eclipse).
3. Akranes Lighthouse, Iceland
1 minute 9 seconds totality, 76% chance of cloud
This cute lighthouse has lots of space for viewing and a great view out to sea.
4. Búðakirkja, Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland
1 minute 56 seconds totality, 75% chance of cloud
The “black church” has starred in so many photos of the northern lights. Now it gets its turn with the eclipse sun.
5. Gijón, Spain
1 minute 45 seconds totality, 54% chance of cloud
It’s a little risky to be on the northern coast of Spain, but this town of 270,000 will nevertheless be ready for totality.
6. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
30 seconds totality, 58% chance of cloud
This iconic art museum, designed by architect Frank Gehry, has 250 contemporary works. It gets only a short totality.
7. Tower of Hercules, A Coruña, Spain
1 minute 15 seconds totality, 54% chance of cloud
Galicia’s second largest city, this medieval old town on the northwest coast is known for its Roman lighthouse, the Tower of Hercules
8. Palencia, Spain
1 minute 42 seconds totality, 23% chance of cloud
The Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León areas will be busy precisely because they are predicted to have clear skies.
9. Burgos, Spain
1 minute 44 seconds totality, 31% chance of cloud
This city in Castile and León will be a base for many eclipse-chasers. It has a beautiful cathedral and is a step on the Pilgrim’s Way of Saint James.
10. Valladolid, Spain
1 minute 28 seconds totality, 19% chance of cloud
One of the most likely cities to have clear skies, Valladolid is famed for its medieval religious sites and the Royal Palace, home of Spanish kings in the early 1600s. It’s also home to the Christopher Columbus Museum. The explorer died here.
11. Segovia, Spain
54 seconds totality, 19% chance of cloud
This beautiful city is home to a spectacular Roman aqueduct with more than 160 arches. It’s close to the southern edge of the path but only an hour’s drive from Madrid. It will be heaving with people, particularly photographers.
12. Guadalajara, Spain
1 minute 6 seconds totality, 17% chance of cloud
This city, northeast of Madrid in Castilla–La Mancha, straddles the Henares River. The key sight is the Infantado Palace.
13. Sigüenza, Spain
1 minute 38 seconds totality, 21% chance of cloud
Declared a Historic-Artistic site in 1965, this city is home to the iconic Sigüenza Castle, a cathedral and the Plaza Mayor square.
14. Barranco del Río Dulce Natural Park, Spain
1 minute 38 seconds totality, 21% chance of cloud
This park, just south of Sigüenza, has waterfalls, caves, canyons and other spectacular limestone formations. It’s also busy with vultures, eagles and falcons.
15. Almazán, Spain
1 minute 44 seconds totality, 22% chance of cloud
Almost bang on the centerline for a long totality, Almazan on the banks of the river Duero has remains of a wall, two entrance gates and several churches from the 12th century.
16. Alcañiz, Spain
1 minute 33 seconds totality, 20% chance of cloud
It’s important to stay away from Spain’s east coast, which has all the hotels but none of the views of this low eclipse. So get inland to somewhere like Alcañiz, Aragon, on the banks of the river Guadalope, where the chance of clear skies is also very good.
17. Mallorca, Spain
1 minute 36 seconds totality, 36% chance of cloud
From this Spanish island, it will be possible to see a “sunset totality”—a golden corona as the eclipsed sun sinks into the ocean—though sightlines will make it tricky.
18. Cala Vadella, Ibiza, Spain
59 seconds totality, 33% chance of cloud
Though south of the centerline so, with a shorter totality, Ibiza’s west coast will make an excellent place for this eclipse for nature lovers and party-goers.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
