When and where to watch the 2026 total solar eclipse

On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will sweep across western Europe in one of the most accessible eclipse events of the coming decades. The path of totality crosses Spain from northwest to southeast, passing over some of the continent's most populated cities.

What really matters: totality (C2 → C3)

The wow moment of the eclipse happens between C2 and C3: the roughly two minutes when the Moon completely covers the Sun. That is the only window with the corona, the temperature drop and the 360° twilight glow. If you can focus on just one thing, focus on this.

The partial phases (C1 → C2 and C3 → C4) are interesting with eclipse glasses, but the naked-eye change is modest until the very last minutes before totality.

C4: the end of the eclipse

C4 (fourth contact) is the instant when the Sun fully exits the lunar shadow: the official end of the eclipse. For most viewers it is not a critical moment — the experience is already over at C3.

C4 only matters if you want to see the eclipse from start to finish (photographers documenting every phase, astronomers timing contacts): at many sites in Spain the Sun will be only 1–3° above the horizon at that point, and terrain to the west-northwest — mountains, hills or buildings — can block it before C4 arrives.

This calculator analyzes exactly that: the real terrain horizon at each point versus the Sun's position at C4, so you know whether you'll be able to close out the eclipse or you'll have to settle for having seen totality.

The path of totality in Spain

The lunar umbra enters Galicia before 18:30 UTC and leaves the Peninsula over the Levantine coast around 19:00 UTC. Cities inside the path will experience between 1 min 30 s (edges) and over 2 minutes of totality in the central zone.

Cities inside the full path

• Santiago de Compostela — on the central track; good odds of clear sky in August
• Bilbao and the Basque Country — near the northern limit; mountainous horizon to the west is relevant
• Zaragoza — low Sun but visible over the flat Ebro plain
• Valencia — the Sun sets toward the west-northwest, behind the inland relief (Sierra Calderona and foothills of the Iberian System); the Mediterranean is behind the observer. Pick high ground west of the city to avoid losing C3/C4

Local time matters

The eclipse happens in late afternoon Spain time (20:30–21:00 local). This means:

• Golden sunset light during totality: exceptional photographic conditions
• Low Sun: any obstacle toward the west-northwest can ruin the view
• Rule of thumb: from any elevated spot with a clear western horizon the eclipse can be followed nearly to 100% (C4 included)
• Comfortable temperature in August; no morning mist expected

Outside the path

From the rest of Spain (Canary Islands, southern Extremadura, Madrid…) the eclipse will be partial, with coverage between 70% and 95%. No totality, but you'll see a clearly bitten Sun.

What to do now

1. Look up your municipality in this calculator and check the horizon verdict
2. If the result is marginal or blocked, explore nearby cities in the "Nearby" section
3. Check the cloud forecast as often as you want from mid-July 2026
4. Save your plan with the snapshot button to share it

Astronomical data calculated with astronomy-engine. Terrain horizon estimated with SRTM 30 m data.