World

Total solar eclipse crosses Spain for the first time in more than 100 years

Herz — World Desk · 12 August 2026 at 11:55 · 30s summary · 3 min read

The essentials

A total solar eclipse crosses Spain on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, within a band stretching from A Coruña to Palma. It is the first such event in the country in more than 100 years. The eclipse runs from 7:30 p.m. until shortly before 9:30 p.m., with totality lasting under two minutes. Spain’s traffic authority expects up to 1.5 million additional journeys and prohibits stopping on roads or shoulders. Seven eclipse-glasses models have been recalled over possible eye injuries, while nearly 500 official viewing points are available nationwide.

Totality follows a band from A Coruña to Palma and lasts under two minutes
Spain has not experienced such an event in more than 100 years
Up to 1.5 million additional journeys are expected; stopping on roads is prohibited
Seven eclipse-glasses models have been recalled over possible eye injuries
Nearly 500 official viewing points have been identified across Spain

What we know

According to El País, a total solar eclipse is crossing Spain on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. It is visible as a total eclipse only within a west-to-east band running from A Coruña to Palma and encompassing several provincial capitals. Spain has not experienced such an event in more than 100 years.

The eclipse begins at 7:30 p.m. and ends shortly before 9:30 p.m. The phase of totality, when the Sun is completely obscured, lasts under two minutes.

El País has identified nearly 500 official viewing points across Spain where people can watch the eclipse.

Authorities prepare for an influx of visitors

Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic, known as the DGT, expects up to 1.5 million additional journeys to viewing areas that day. This represents as much as a 100% increase compared with a typical August 12. The authority has strictly prohibited stopping on road shoulders or carriageways to watch the eclipse.

In Catalonia, travel to the Terres de l’Ebre, one of the best viewing areas, has been increasing since Tuesday, August 11, including on public transport, according to Núria Parlon, the Catalan government’s interior minister.

Civil Protection authorities in Castilla-La Mancha sent emergency alerts to residents’ mobile phones, asking them to avoid unnecessary travel and not to stop along roadsides.

In Barcelona, Albert Batlle, the deputy mayor responsible for security, asked residents not to travel to Collserola. The eclipse will not be total there, and access restrictions remain in effect as part of measures to control African swine fever. The designated viewing sites are the Anella Olímpica lookout and Montjuïc.

Seven eclipse-glasses models recalled over eye injury risk

Consumer authorities in several Spanish autonomous communities have ordered the withdrawal of seven eclipse-glasses models because of a risk of eye injury. The affected brands are Mó, Lionstar, ECP Eye Care Professional, Pelispan, Homanaje, Orro and Opticalia.

The Ebro Observatory: monitoring the sky since 1905

The Catalan government selected the Ebro Observatory in Roquetes, Tarragona, as its official eclipse-monitoring site. It is the only astronomical facility in Catalonia located within the path of totality.

Designed by Jesuits around 125 years ago, the observatory opened on August 30, 1905, the date of the last total eclipse visible in Catalonia. Its collections include more than 55,000 volumes and astronomical data series spanning over a century.

Wildfire risk in rural areas

Some autonomous communities have warned of a wildfire risk linked to high temperatures. They have urged people planning to watch the eclipse from countryside or forest areas to exercise the utmost caution.