For the ultimate viewing experience, set your sights on Spain or Iceland.
The solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, is a significant event for astronomy enthusiasts as it marks the first total solar eclipse since 2024. This occasion is further highlighted by its coincidence with the annual Perseid meteor shower. Additionally, this eclipse will be lengthier than typical, occurring during the moon’s perigee, which is when the moon is closest to Earth and appears larger. While the complete experience won’t be visible everywhere worldwide, many areas will witness at least a partial eclipse.
This time, while the 2024 eclipse had its focus in North America, viewers in Spain and Iceland will enjoy the best views. Nonetheless, other regions will still be able to see some of the eclipse. Areas in Canada, the United States, and Europe will have varying levels of visibility, though those not in the path of totality will only see a section of the eclipse.
Best Locations for Viewing the 2026 Solar Eclipse
For the best experience of the 2026 solar eclipse, western Iceland and northern Spain are ideal spots. The full eclipse will last the longest in Látrabjargi, Iceland, with it also being visible from cities such as Reykjavík and Isafjordur along the western coast. However, Spain offers a more favorable situation for eclipse viewing due to its extensive land coverage and generally warmer August temperatures, often 20 to 30 degrees higher than Iceland.
In Spain, cities like Bilbao, Burgos, Palma, Santander, Valencia, Valladolid, and Zaragoza will experience the total eclipse. A small area in northeastern Portugal, specifically Montesinho Natural Park in Bragança, will also fall into the path of totality. Several remote locations in Russia and Greenland will see total eclipses as well, but they may require specialized access.
For those in North America, the partial eclipse will be visible primarily in the northern United States and eastern Canada, with varying levels of coverage. For instance, New York City may only experience a 9% eclipse coverage, whereas St. John’s in Newfoundland could see up to 53%. Below are some locations with their peak eclipse times and obscuration percentages:
| Location | Peak Eclipse Time | Obscuration |
| León, Spain | 8:33 PM CEST | 100% |
| Valencia, Spain | 8:32 PM CEST | 100% |
| Reykjavík, Iceland | 5:48 PM GMT | 100% |
| Anchorage, AK | 8:21 AM AKDT | 28% |
| Boston, MA | 1:55 PM EDT | 16% |
| Chicago, IL | 12:28 PM CDT | 0.1% |
| New York City, NY | 1:54 PM EDT | 9% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 1:53 PM EDT | 7% |
| Portland, ME | 1:53 PM EDT | 19% |
| Washington, D.C. | 1:53 PM EDT | 4% |
| Edmonton, Canada | 10:38 AM MDT | 6.5% |
| Montreal, Canada | 1:45 PM EDT | 18% |
| St. John’s, Canada | 3:35 PM NDT | 53% |
| Toronto, Canada | 1:40 PM EST | 8% |
| Winnipeg, Canada | 12:02 PM CDT | 5% |
| Dublin, Ireland | 7:10 PM IST | 94% |
| London, England | 7:13 PM BST | 91% |
| Madrid, Spain | 8:32 PM CEST | 99% |
| Paris, France | 8:17 PM CEST | 92% |
Ensuring Safety During the Eclipse
Observing a solar eclipse is safe only during the brief period of totality; at other times, gazing directly can cause severe and permanent eye damage. Since the US will not see a full eclipse, anyone wanting to watch should wear eye protection throughout. Standard sunglasses or binoculars do not suffice. To view the eclipse safely, specialized eclipse glasses or solar viewers are required. Photographers should also use protective covers for their lenses. A list of approved products is available from the American Astronomical Society to help ensure adequate eye safety.
Alternatively, indirect viewing methods are simple to create. A popular option is the pinhole projector, with instructions available on NASA’s official site. Everyday items with small holes, like colanders, or even hands arranged in a crisscross pattern can also work. Position yourself with your back to the sun, allowing light to pass through the holes onto a surface like a wall or ground to observe an outline of the eclipse.
