On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, millions of people across Europe will witness their first total solar eclipse in 27 years. The event will start at 15:34 GMT when the moon begins to partially block the sun, gradually dimming daylight.

The moon's shadow will sweep across Earth's surface from the Arctic toward Europe, turning day into sudden night for about two minutes along the path of totality. This path will cross northern Russia, Greenland, and Iceland before moving across Spain and a small part of Portugal, bringing near-total darkness to approximately 15 million people.

During the brief period when the sun is completely covered, observers can safely view or photograph the eclipse without solar filters. The eclipse offers a rare opportunity to experience a dramatic celestial event, with the last total solar eclipse visible in Europe occurring nearly three decades ago.

For those interested in safely watching the eclipse, experts recommend using proper solar viewing glasses until the sun is fully obscured.

Sources