2026 Total Solar Eclipse Today: Path, Times, and Where to Watch

Millions of skywatchers are looking up today as the only total solar eclipse of 2026 sweeps across the Northern Hemisphere.

The Moon’s shadow began racing across the Arctic starting at 15:34 GMT, crossing eastern Greenland, western Iceland, and northern Spain before ending over the Mediterranean Sea. Totality lasts up to two minutes and 18 seconds in the best-positioned locations.

Where to see totality

The path of totality is a narrow band roughly 182 miles (293 km) wide. Cities in range include:

• A Coruña, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Valencia, and Palma in Spain
• Parts of eastern Greenland and western Iceland
• A small corner of northeastern Portugal, near Bragança

Madrid and Barcelona both sit just outside the path and will see a deep partial eclipse instead.

Why this eclipse matters

This is the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999. Because it occurs just two days after the Moon reaches its closest point to Earth (perigee), the Moon appears slightly larger than usual, stretching totality longer than average.

Major European cities outside the path — including London and Paris — will still see over 90% of the Sun covered. In the United States, viewers won’t get totality, but places like Fairbanks, Alaska will see up to 37% coverage, while Boston, New York, and Philadelphia will see smaller partial eclipses.

Watching safely

Except during the brief moments of totality, looking directly at the Sun without certified solar eclipse glasses can cause permanent eye damage. Regular sunglasses are not sufficient.

What’s next

Europe won’t have to wait long for another. A total solar eclipse returns on August 2, 2027, visible from Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East, followed by an annular eclipse in January 2028.