On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, a solar eclipse will be visible to nearly one billion people worldwide, with approximately 15 million located in the path of totality, mostly in Spain. The moon’s shadow will begin its journey at 15:34 GMT, moving from the Arctic across Greenland, Iceland, and Spain, where the sun will be completely obscured for up to two minutes and 18 seconds.

This event marks mainland Europe’s first total solar eclipse since 1999. A partial eclipse will also be observable across much of Western Europe, parts of Northwestern Africa, and a small portion of the United States.

In North Africa, Algiers will experience about 98 percent coverage of the sun, while Casablanca will see approximately 87 percent coverage, though in both cities the sun will set before the eclipse concludes.

Across the Atlantic, the eclipse occurs during morning and afternoon hours, avoiding sunset issues. In the United States, the most significant coverage will be in parts of Alaska at about 37 percent. Elsewhere in the US, the eclipse will be less pronounced, with northeastern Maine seeing about 28 percent coverage, New York around 10 percent, and minimal visibility in the Midwest.

Overall, about one in eight people globally will witness at least a partial eclipse, leaving the majority under normal skies. According to NASA, Earth experiences two to five solar eclipses annually.

Viewers are encouraged to use available tools to determine the eclipse’s timing and coverage for their specific locations.

Sources