A total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026, with a maximum totality of two minutes and 18 seconds visible near the coast of Iceland, according to timeanddate.de. The event will be visible across parts of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, marking the first total solar eclipse to cross Europe since 1999, while In the United States, only a partial eclipse will be visible in northern Maine, lasting just a few minutes, as reported by USA Today.

Timing and Visibility

The partial phase of the eclipse will begin at 5:14 a.m; ET in Maine on August 2, 2027, but the primary event of interest — the total solar eclipse, occurs on August 12, 2026. In Germany, the partial eclipse will begin at 7:10 p.m. local time, with totality expected to reach its peak between 8:00 and 8:15 p.m. in southern regions, where up to 90% of the sun will be obscured, according to WELT. The total phase of the eclipse will last up to one hour and 36 minutes in certain locations, with the longest totality recorded in the North Atlantic.

Best Viewing Locations

Spain and its Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, Ibiza, and Formentera, are highlighted as prime viewing locations, with totality occurring as the sun sets, according to BBC Sky at Night Magazine. The eclipse will be visible from virtually anywhere on the islands, and local experts recommend avoiding travel to reduce traffic and protect the environment, In Europe, the best views will be in southern regions, where the sun is higher in the sky during the eclipse. Meanwhile, the path of totality will also cross through parts of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Egypt, and the Middle East, according to NASA.

What to Expect During the Eclipse

During totality, viewers may witness a range of astronomical phenomena, including the solar corona, planets such as Venus and Jupiter, and even sunspots, according to Space.com. The sudden drop in temperature, the dimming of daylight, and the appearance of stars during the day are among the most striking effects of a total solar eclipse. In some regions, such as Iceland and the North Atlantic, the sun will set while the eclipse is in progress, creating a dramatic “golden hour” effect, as noted by BBC Sky at Night Magazine.