The only total solar eclipse of 2026 will occur on Wednesday, August 12, affecting parts of northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal as the moon passes in front of the sun. The path of totality stretches across northern and eastern Spain including cities like Leon, Valladolid, Zaragoza, Teruel, and Valencia.
Key Takeaways
The only total solar eclipse of 2026 will occur on August 12, affecting parts of northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal. The path of totality stretches across northern and eastern Spain, with up to six million visitors expected in the region. NASA's live coverage begins at 1:45 p.m. EDT (17:00 UTC), with totality lasting less than two minutes and eighteen seconds depending on location.
- Total solar eclipse occurs on August 12, affecting parts of northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal
- Path of totality stretches across northern and eastern Spain including cities like Leon, Valladolid, Zaragoza, Teruel, and Valencia
- Up to six million visitors expected within the eclipse’s path across northern Spain and the Balearic Islands
- NASA's live coverage begins at 1:45 p.m. EDT (17:00 UTC), with totality lasting less than two minutes and eighteen seconds depending on location
- Partial eclipse visible across much of Western Europe, parts of Northwest Africa, most of Canada, and part of the northern United States
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▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 10 publishers report consistent facts across 4 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eclipse Start Time | 1 Difference | Majority reports start time as 1:45 p.m. EDT (17:00 UTC); Time reports total duration of eclipse. | ▼ |
| Eclipse Duration | Broad Agreement | Totality lasts less than two minutes eighteen seconds depending on location. | |
| Path Of Totality | Broad Agreement | Path stretches from northern Russia through Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a patch of Portugal. | |
| Partial Eclipse Visibility | Broad Agreement | Partial eclipse visible across much of Western Europe, parts of Northwest Africa, most of Canada, a… | |
| Eclipse Viewers | Broad Agreement | Special equipment such as eclipse glasses or handheld viewers with special filters will be necessar… |
Eclipse Start Time
▼Majority reports start time as 1:45 p.m. EDT (17:00 UTC); Time reports total duration of eclipse.
Eclipse Duration
Broad AgreementTotality lasts less than two minutes eighteen seconds depending on location.
Path Of Totality
Broad AgreementPath stretches from northern Russia through Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a patch of Portugal.
Partial Eclipse Visibility
Broad AgreementPartial eclipse visible across much of Western Europe, parts of Northwest Africa, most of Canada, and part of the northern United States.
Eclipse Viewers
Broad AgreementSpecial equipment such as eclipse glasses or handheld viewers with special filters will be necessary to protect one's eyes.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
NASA's live coverage begins at 1:45 p.m. EDT (17:00 UTC), according to UPI News. Totality is expected to last less than two minutes and eighteen seconds depending on location, with its maximum duration off Iceland’s west coast lasting under 2.5 minutes.
The eclipse begins near the North Pole before streaking southward across Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a patch of Portugal. This marks the first total solar eclipse viewable from Europe since 1999 as reported by Space.com through UPI News. For those outside the path of totality but lucky enough to experience a partial eclipse, special equipment such as eclipse glasses or handheld viewers with special filters will be necessary to protect one's eyes.
A partial eclipse will be visible across much of Western Europe, parts of Northwest Africa, most of Canada, and part of the northern United States. About 980 million people worldwide may see at least partial coverage. In Paris, roughly 92 percent of the sun will be covered, in London 91 percent, and in Berlin 85 percent. According to UPI News, about 15.2 million people across the world—mostly in Europe—live in the path of totality.
The eclipse did not take long to play out, lasting just 4.4 hours before it at last extinguished its fires in the Mediterranean waters. But it made an enduring impression—and will continue to, thanks to the uncounted astronomers and lay folk who photographed the event with ordinary cameras, great observatories, and even a NASA chase plane.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 10 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.