the astronomical event of the century is approaching

Many of us still have the healthy envy of seeing the spectacular images of the total solar eclipse who toured Mexico, the United States and Canada two years ago. It was an event that paralyzed a continent, especially in the so-called “strip of totality”, the areas that were left completely dark. Well, the next great cosmic event has Spain as a global protagonist. And we won’t have to wait long.

August 12, 2026. In just four months the first total solar eclipse visible in Spain since 1905 will take place, a unique opportunity in more than a century. Together with Iceland, which will enjoy 58 seconds of totality, we will be the only country in the world that will be able to see all phases of the eclipse. And let’s be honest: in the middle of August, our chances of having clear skies are considerably better than those of Icelanders.

Context. A total eclipse occurs when the Moon aligns perfectly between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow that plunges the lucky ones into twilight darkness in broad daylight. In the event of 2026, this shadow, the strip of totality, will be about 300 kilometers wide and will cross Spain from west to east, from Galicia to the Balearic Islands.

The autonomous communities that will remain under the shadow cone of totality are Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, the Basque Country, La Rioja, Aragon, Catalonia, the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands. Madrid will be right on the edge, with a fleeting totality in the north of the region. But the rest of the country will not be left empty-handed and will witness a very deep partial eclipse, with coverage of more than 90% (and up to 74% in the Canary Islands, with Lanzarote as the island with the best seats for the show).

Almost two minutes. An essential tool to plan the observation of the eclipse down to the millisecond is the interactive map by Xavier Jubier. This resource is the gold standard for eclipse hunters because it allows you to click on any point on the map to obtain the exact times of each phase, the duration of totality, the altitude of the Sun in the area… You can also consult the map of the National Geographic Institute.

The eclipse will begin just before sunset. The totality phase will take place around 8:30 p.m. (peninsular summer time), with the sun already very low on the horizon. This turns observation into a race against time against the setting sun. In cities like Oviedo, totality will last 1 minute and 48 seconds, just a few moments longer than in Burgos, León or the island of Mallorca, which is emerging as one of the most tourist places to see the eclipse (with the disadvantage that the Sun sets earlier than in the northwest of the peninsula).

Safety first. As much as it may tempt us to look directly at the Sun, even partially eclipsed, can cause permanent eye damage. During all partial phases (before and after totality), it is necessary to wear glasses certified to view eclipses or indirect methods to observe it.

For the rest, it will be enough to find an elevated observation place, with a horizon clear of mountains or buildings to the west so as not to miss what will undoubtedly be the astronomical event of the century.

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This article was originally published in June 2025. With the eclipse approaching, we have recovered and updated it.