Communication | The 2026 Total Solar Eclipse
The 2026 total solar eclipse and upcoming eclipses
On 12 August 2026, the first total solar eclipse visible from Catalonia in 121 years will take place. The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) provides scientific and technical support to the Government of Catalonia in managing this unique event.
A total solar eclipse is a rare astronomical event that occurs when the Moon passes exactly between the Earth and the Sun, completely obscuring the latter for a brief interval (lasting a few minutes at most). At that moment, day turns into night, the sky and landscape darken, and stars suddenly become visible.
This is a spectacular and very rare phenomenon: each eclipse is only visible from a very narrow strip of the Earth’s surface.
On 12 August, we will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness it from Catalonia, something that has not happened since 1905. Just at sunset on that summer Wednesday—a date already significant in astronomy due to the popular Perseids meteor shower—the Moon’s shadow will sweep across the Iberian Peninsula from Galicia to the Valencian coast and the southern third of Catalonia, finally passing over the Balearic Islands. This will be the path of totality, approximately 200 km wide, where for up to a minute and a half (in the best-case scenarios) the Sun will be completely hidden and darkness will be near-total.
To efficiently manage everything related to this unique phenomenon within our territory, the Government of Catalonia approved the creation of the Interdepartmental Eclipse Commission in May 2025. Led by the Department of Research and Universities, it comprises twelve other government departments. The commission is supported by the scientific and technical expertise of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), which has collaborated on creating the scientific content for the website eclipsicatalunya.cat, the Generalitat’s official repository for information on the 2026 eclipse.
Where can you watch this summer’s total solar eclipse?
The path of totality for the solar eclipse of 12 August 2026—the strip of Earth from which the Moon will be seen completely covering the Sun—will cross the southern part of Catalonia. This makes the southern counties of Tarragona, along with certain areas of Lleida, some of the most suitable locations to observe the total solar eclipse.
Since the eclipse will occur at sunset, the Sun will be low and very close to the horizon, meaning the local topography may affect visibility.
At eclipsicatalunya.cat, users can consult the Sun visibility map for the eclipse, which shows the shadow map (strictly within the path of totality) overlaid on Catalonia. Developed by IEEC technicians, this shadow map clearly defines areas with an unobstructed view of the eclipse (yellow zones) and those where features such as mountains or hills will block visibility (grey zones).
Scientific phenomena visible during a total eclipse
As we move north, away from the path of totality, the eclipse will be partial, with the Moon covering less of the Sun. For instance, in Barcelona, it will darken by 99.7%, while in Girona, the percentage will drop to 98.8%. Although these figures suggest almost total darkness, even 0.1% of visible Sun (i.e., 99.9% partiality) prevents the observation of many characteristic phenomena of a total eclipse. These include the Sun’s atmosphere (the solar corona), which becomes visible only when the star is fully hidden, or Baily’s beads—’drops of light’ that appear around the Moon due to its irregular terrain.
Planning your observation of the 2026 total solar eclipse
A high volume of travel towards the visibility zones is expected on the day of the total solar eclipse. For this reason, it is recommended to plan transport in advance and follow the authorities’ advice, such as prioritising designated observation points that meet safety and capacity criteria. These points have been identified by the Government of Catalonia, in collaboration with the municipalities within the path of totality and based on visibility, capacity, and safety criteria.
Eclipsicatalunya.cat also features a search tool by municipality, where anyone can find exact information on how the eclipse will behave in their local area, whether or not it falls within the path of totality.
Please note that observing the eclipse without proper protection can cause serious and irreversible eye damage. At eclipsicatalunya.cat, you can find a list of safe (and unsafe) observation methods, as well as a comprehensive set of recommendations and tips to enjoy the event as safely as possible.
A ‘triplet’ of eclipses in the Iberian Peninsula
The 2026 total solar eclipse will not be the only one experienced in the Iberian territory in the coming months; it is part of a ‘triplet’ of Iberian eclipses which will continue with the total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027. The path of totality for this eclipse, starting around 10:50 am, will cross the Strait of Gibraltar from west to east, covering the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, almost the entire province of Cádiz, part of Málaga, and the southernmost areas of Granada and Almería.
Subsequently, on 26 January 2028, an annular eclipse or ‘ring of fire’ will take place. This type of eclipse occurs when the Moon covers the Sun but not entirely, leaving a visible ring of sunlight around it. Part of Catalonia will fall within the visibility strip for this annular eclipse, which will occur near sunset. The best areas to enjoy it will be the south, south-west, and parts of central Catalonia. Once again, the provinces of Tarragona and Lleida will offer the best visibility.
