The Great Eclipse: Spain’s century-long wait is nearly over!
Total solar eclipse from Bay Village, Ohio.
Credit: Shutterstock, Philip Yabut
Clear your calendars, stargazers and Sun-bathers! For the first time since 1912, the Spanish mainland is gearing up to experience a total solar eclipse that’s been over a hundred years in the making. Dubbed ‘The Great Spanish Eclipse,’ this rare cosmic event will momentarily cloak parts of Spain in midday darkness on 12 August 2026 – and the excitement is already building!
If you missed the last big eclipse on April 8 2024 – which put on a dazzling show across the pond in the US – fear not, because this time, Spain is front and centre. Dubbed ‘The Great Spanish Eclipse’, this super-rare event will see the Moon momentarily steal the Sun’s thunder, casting its shadow over Spain, Greenland, Iceland, Russia, and even a sliver of Portugal.
On August 12, 2026, in the middle of the day, the Sun will vanish from the sky for around a minute as the Moon moves directly between the Earth and the Sun. Those lucky enough to be in the right spot will witness the breathtaking solar corona, the glowing outer atmosphere of the Sun, shining eerily around the darkened Moon.
Sure, an eclipse graced the Canary Islands back in 1959, but the rest of Spain has been waiting in the wings since 1912 – so this has been on the national bucket list for a while. The elusive dance of shadows will parade across Greenland, Iceland, Russia, a tiny corner of Portugal, and – lucky for us – centre stage in Spain. If you missed the 2024 eclipse in the US, chalk it up to fate bringing you a front-row seat here at home!
How to watch safely – don’t go blind for science!
Looking at a solar eclipse the wrong way could leave you with permanent eye damage, so take this warning very seriously. Even when the Sun appears to be covered, harmful UV and infrared radiation can still cause irreversible damage to your retina.
Here’s how to safely enjoy the show:
- Use special eclipse glasses or telescopes with ISO 12312-2 certified filters.
- Watch through digital cameras or projectors that have built-in solar filters.
- Make a DIY pinhole projector – NASA has easy instructions online for this simple but effective trick.
What’s happening in 2025? The warm-up act!
While the main event isn’t until 2026, Spain won’t be totally eclipse-free in 2025. Here’s what’s coming up before the big one:
March 14, 2025
A total lunar eclipse, reaching peak darkness at 7.58 AM. Best viewed from the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla.
March 29, 2025
A partial solar eclipse, peaking at 11.40 AM and visible across all of Spain.
September 7, 2025
Another total lunar eclipse, peaking at 8.11 PM and visible nationwide.
Final countdown to the big eclipse!
This is Spain’s moment to witness one of the most amazing celestial events of the century. If you’ve never seen a total solar eclipse before, this is your chance. Don’t miss it – the next one in Spain won’t be until 2028!
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