The total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, will be visible from parts of Spain, Iceland, and Greenland, while the partial phase will delight observers across Europe, including Croatia, where the best conditions will be in Kvarner and Istria.
On Tuesday, August 12, 2026, the sky will put on a spectacular celestial dance. A total solar eclipse will cast its shadow over parts of Spain, Iceland, and Greenland, while the partial phase will be observable across Europe, North America, and western Africa. For astronomy enthusiasts in Croatia, this will be a special opportunity as the Moon will cover a significant portion of the Sun's disk just before sunset.
One of the most striking sights will occur in northern Spain. At exactly 8:28 PM, the Moon's long shadow will cover nearly the entire route of the Camino de Santiago, the famous pilgrimage path. The darkness will last approximately one minute and 30 seconds, while the initial sections of the route to Pamplona and the final part in Compostela will remain outside the path of totality. The shadow's speed will be a dizzying more than 7,000 kilometers per hour.
This is the first time in over a century that a total solar eclipse reaches the mainland of Spain. The shadow will begin near the North Pole and travel south along a route of 8,260 kilometers, mostly over the Atlantic, reaching its maximum west of the Icelandic coast. The total phase will last up to two minutes and 18 seconds, but in Portugal and Spain it will be shortened to about one minute.
Although Croatia is not on the path of totality, the partial eclipse will be quite noticeable. Residents of Kvarner and Istria will have the best viewing conditions, where the Moon will cover nearly 90 percent of the Sun's diameter at its peak. According to data from the Time and Date website, in Rijeka, 79.67 percent of the Sun will be obscured. The eclipse will begin at 7:27 PM, reach its maximum at 8:11 PM, and end at 9:08 PM, lasting a total of 101 minutes.
The special charm of this eclipse lies in its timing. It will occur just before sunset, when the Sun is very low on the horizon, which can result in extremely dramatic and photogenic scenes. For comparison, the last solar eclipse visible from Europe, on March 29, 2025, showed only 10 to 20 percent coverage of the Sun's disk in Croatia.
The event will attract the attention of the scientific community and numerous enthusiasts. The European Space Agency (ESA) will organize a live broadcast from the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory in Spain, and NASA will also be involved. Research teams from the U.S. plan to launch more than 60 high-altitude balloons from Spain and Iceland to study the atmosphere during the brief temperature drop.
"For me, this is not just a scientific moment. It's not just an incredible alignment of celestial bodies. It's also a very human moment," said Carole Mundell, ESA's Director of Science.
Michael Zeiler, an eclipse map author, shared his excitement: "What excites me is observing rare phenomena." The day will also be filled with other celestial attractions. Before dawn, an arc of six planets will appear in the sky, and after nightfall, the Perseid meteor shower will peak.
Experts warn that observing the eclipse, even the partial one, requires certified solar viewing glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard or appropriate solar filters for telescopes and binoculars. Looking at the Sun without protection can permanently damage your eyesight.
For those who will miss this spectacle, consolation comes in the form of an even more impressive event. Already in 2027, an even longer total solar eclipse is expected, with totality lasting up to six minutes and 23 seconds over southern Spain, parts of North Africa, and the Middle East. The last major total eclipse in mainland western and central Europe occurred on August 11, 1999.
