Topline
Spain is about to become the eclipse capital of the world. On Aug. 12, a total solar eclipse will cross the country — about to play Portugal in the World Cup — just before sunset, bringing the moon’s dark umbral shadow to mainland Europe for the first time this century. It will be followed less than a year later by another total solar eclipse in southern Spain on Aug. 2, 2027, and a “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse on Jan. 26, 2028. That means Spain will experience three major solar eclipses in just 532 days — two total and one annular — making it the must-visit destination for eclipse chasers in the coming years. A tiny region of extreme northeastern Portugal will also be within the path of totality this Aug. 12.
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2026 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE: BACKGROUND
The Aug. 12, 2026 total solar eclipse will begin in remote Siberia, cross eastern Greenland, western Iceland and the North Atlantic, then sweep across northern Spain before ending just east of the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera) in the Mediterranean. A small area within Portugal’s Montesinho Natural Park will also experience a very short totality. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible from Europe since 2015 and the first from mainland Europe since 1999. Totality will last a little over two minutes at maximum, but Spain’s sunset geometry means viewers will see the black sun hanging low over landscapes, coastlines and horizons — if clouds and terrain cooperate.
‘SHOOTING STARS’ AND A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
The Perseid meteor shower peaks overnight on Aug. 12-13, just hours after the eclipse, and 2026 brings a new moon, meaning dark skies for one of the best Perseid displays in years. During the eclipse itself, the sky may darken enough for Venus, Jupiter or bright stars to appear, but meteors are fleeting, random and generally best seen in a fully dark night sky. A very bright fireball during totality is not impossible, but it would be pure luck. The smart plan is to watch the eclipse at sunset, then stay out all night for Perseids. The real Perseid show comes after midnight and before dawn.
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SPAIN’s THREE SOLAR ECLIPSES IN 532 DAYS
Spain’s rare run begins with the Aug. 12, 2026 total solar eclipse across northern Spain. Less than a year later, on Aug. 2, 2027, another total solar eclipse will cross southern Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia and the British Indian Ocean Territory. In Spain, places such as Cádiz, Málaga, Tarifa, Ceuta and Melilla will be among the prime locations, while the longest global duration will occur near Luxor, Egypt, at 6 minutes, 22 seconds. Then, on Jan. 26, 2028, Spain gets a third solar eclipse — this time annular. The moon will appear slightly too small to completely cover the sun, leaving a thin ring of sunlight around the lunar silhouette. The path of annularity will cross the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Suriname, French Guiana, Morocco, Portugal and southern Spain, where it will occur close to sunset.
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WHERE TO SEE THE 2026, 2027 AND 2028 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSES
Here’s what you need to know about the next three total solar eclipses:
- Aug. 12, 2026 total solar eclipse: Choose a cruise near Greenland, urban comforts in Reykjavík, a trip to rural northern Spain or a sunset eclipse over the sea from Majorca. In Spain, the crucial factor will be an unobstructed western horizon.
- Aug. 2, 2027 total solar eclipse: Southern Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt offer a long totality and generally strong prospects for clear skies. For ultimate bragging rights, Luxor, Egypt, is the standout destination, offering the longest totality along the eclipse path amid ancient temples.
- July 22, 2028 total solar eclipse: Although not part of Spain’s trio, this eclipse completes a global run of three total solar eclipses from 2026 to 2028. It will cross the Australian Outback and New Zealand, with Sydney experiencing totality for the first time since 1857.
FURTHER READING
ForbesFancy Trying Astrotourism? Don’t Miss August 12, 2026By Jamie CarterForbesNASA Drops Map Of Next Total Solar Eclipse — And It Visits The U.S.By Jamie CarterForbesIf Earth Is Farthest From The Sun This Week, Why Is It So Hot?By Jamie Carter