Countdown to the total solar eclipse
The August 12, 2026 solar eclipse, live
On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse sweeps across Arctic Russia, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic, and northern Spain at sunset — the first total eclipse visible from continental Europe since August 11, 1999. Across most of Europe the eclipse will be a deep partial: for example London sees 91% of the Sun covered, Dublin 94%, and Berlin around 84%, with the Sun low on the western horizon in the early evening. This countdown shows the exact time of the eclipse's greatest moment over the North Atlantic, or for the city of your choice.
Use the city selector to display the start (C1), maximum, and end (C4) of the eclipse in your local time zone, along with the Sun's altitude at maximum. A "Calendar reminder" link lets you download an .ics event with two alerts (the day before and 2 hours before). This widget is free to embed on your own site.
What time exactly will the eclipse happen?
The moment of greatest eclipse over the North Atlantic occurs at 17:45:56 UTC. Local circumstances vary widely by city — use the selector above for the exact time and path of totality where totality applies (Iceland, northern Spain).
Where can I see the total eclipse?
The path of totality runs through Arctic Russia, Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain (Gijón, Oviedo, Zaragoza, Palma de Mallorca), where totality lasts up to 2 minutes 18 seconds. Madrid and Barcelona reach 99.9% but fall just outside the path — not total.
What time is it in my time zone?
Times shown in this countdown automatically switch to your selected city's local time zone once you pick a city. Reykjavík sees totality around 17:48 local time; northern Spain around 20:27–20:33 CEST, near sunset.