Spain prepares for the total solar eclipse on August 12

Madrid – 03/08/2026: Spain is preparing for the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. That evening, the Moon’s umbra will cross the Iberian Peninsula from northwest to east. According to Spain’s National Geographic Institute, it will be the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Spain in more than a century. Parts of Portugal, as well as Iceland, Greenland and regions of Russia, also lie along the path of totality.

In Spain, the umbra will first reach Galicia before moving across the north and east of the country. The institute lists A Coruña, Oviedo, León, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Valencia and Palma among the locations within the calculated zone. Outside this narrow corridor, the eclipse will remain partial. Whether the Sun appears fully covered therefore depends on the exact location, not merely on proximity to one of the cities mentioned.

One special feature is the late time of day: during totality, the Sun will already be comparatively low above the western horizon. Buildings, mountains, trees or clouds can therefore obstruct the view more easily than during an eclipse around midday. The National Geographic Institute publishes calculations for individual municipalities covering the beginning, maximum and end of the event. Observers will also need a location with an unobstructed view to the west.

The government in Madrid announced in July an official observation center at the Yebes Observatory in the province of Guadalajara. The celestial event will be broadcast from there for Spanish and international media. According to the Ministry of Science, it marks the start of three solar eclipses visible from Spain in quick succession: another total eclipse will follow on August 2, 2027, and an annular eclipse on January 26, 2028.

Authorities and specialist institutions warn against looking at the Sun without a suitable filter. Certified eclipse glasses are required for all partial phases; ordinary sunglasses do not provide sufficient protection. Direct viewing can permanently damage the retina. During the brief totality, the bright solar disk is completely obscured. As soon as a bright portion becomes visible again, eye protection must be put back on.

The preparations draw on historical experience. Accounts of earlier total eclipses observed in Spain describe closed shops, organized viewing events and a brief darkness descending abruptly. This time, the affected municipalities must also prepare for large numbers of visitors and increased traffic. However, visibility on the evening of August 12 will depend on the chosen location, a clear horizon and local cloud cover.