Topline
On Wednesday, Aug. 12, the moon’s central shadow will cross Greenland, Iceland and Spain, beginning one of the most remarkable periods for eclipse enthusiasts in modern history. Over the next 710 days, Earth will experience three total solar eclipses visible from Europe, Africa and Australia, giving travelers an unusually accessible chance to witness one of nature’s rarest spectacles. It makes 2026 through 2028 an extraordinary period for eclipse chasers and anyone who ever wanted to experience a total eclipse of the sun.
Key Facts
The first event begins tomorrow, Aug. 12, when a total solar eclipse crosses eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain. It will be Europe’s first total solar eclipse since 2015, and mainland Europe’s first since 1999.
The centerpiece comes on Aug. 2, 2027, with the so-called “eclipse of the century.” Totality will last up to 6 minutes and 23 seconds near Luxor, Egypt — the longest land-based total solar eclipse between 1991 and 2114.
The trilogy concludes on July 22, 2028, when totality sweeps across Australia and New Zealand. Sydney will experience its first total solar eclipse since 1857, while Western Australia will enjoy more than five minutes of totality.
The sequence is unusually travel-friendly. Rather than crossing remote oceans, the paths pass through destinations with established tourism infrastructure, including Iceland, Spain, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Australia.
Although similar trios of total solar eclipses repeat every 18 years, few have crossed so many accessible and culturally significant destinations.
Why This Is A Golden Age
Most people consider themselves fortunate to witness a single total solar eclipse during their lifetime. Between tomorrow and July 2028, it will be possible to experience three across three continents, each offering a completely different setting — Arctic landscapes in Greenland and Iceland, ancient monuments in Egypt and the deserts and cities of Australia. Three total solar eclipses within about two years occur because three separate Saros series happen to align over a short period. Similar trios occurred between 1990 and 1992 and again from 2008 to 2010, with the next not arriving until the mid-2040s.
Total Solar Eclipse 2026
Tomorrow’s eclipse is arguably Europe’s most important astronomical event in more than a quarter of a century. Totality will cross eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, offering dramatic low-altitude views of the eclipsed sun above volcanic landscapes, glaciers and medieval cities. Although maximum totality lasts only a little over two minutes, it marks the beginning of an extraordinary era of eclipses. For many European travelers, it will also be the easiest and most accessible opportunity to witness totality for years to come.
Total Solar Eclipse 2027
Less than a year later, the event many eclipse chasers have spent years planning takes place. The Aug. 2, 2027 eclipse will produce the longest land-based totality between 1991 and 2114, peaking at 6 minutes and 23 seconds near Luxor in Egypt. Combined with almost guaranteed clear skies across parts of North Africa and a path that crosses ancient temples, Mediterranean coastlines and the Nile Valley, it’s easy to see why it’s already known as the “eclipse of the century.” Few eclipses in modern times have combined such exceptional duration, reliable weather and globally significant cultural landmarks along the path of totality.
Total Solar Eclipse 2028
The trilogy concludes in spectacular fashion on July 22, 2028. Totality will sweep across Western Australia before crossing New Zealand, with Sydney witnessing its first total solar eclipse in more than 170 years. Remote parts of the Australian Outback will enjoy more than five minutes of totality beneath some of the clearest skies on Earth. For eclipse chasers, it provides a fitting finale to one of the richest three-year periods for total solar eclipses in recent history.
