Spain has endured a long wait for witnessing a total solar eclipse, a phenomenon where the Moon fully covers the Sun and briefly turns day into night. After 117 years since 1905, the country is poised to experience three major solar eclipses in a single decade. The sequence begins in 2026, continues in 2027, and culminates with a striking annular eclipse in 2028. This stretch has many observers marking it as ten years of solar eclipses for Spain.
August 2026 eclipse
The first event unfolds on August 12, 2026, in the late afternoon. Visibility will be limited to a narrow corridor about 290 kilometers wide, crossing cities such as A Coruña, Gijón, Oviedo, Santander, Valladolid, Vitoria, Zaragoza, Valencia, Castellón, Tarragona and the Balearic Islands. Madrid and Barcelona will lie just outside the optimal band, but the spectacle will still be impressive wherever it is seen.
The path to view the full eclipse is clear in the sense that observers need unobstructed horizons and eye protection. A full eclipse, or totality, will last just over a minute before the Sun gradually reemerges as the Moon moves away from the solar disk.
This dramatic moment will begin in the late afternoon when the Sun sits low on the horizon. To experience it at its best, locations should offer expansive views with minimal mountains or structures blocking the view. A sea horizon or a flat plain without significant elevation provides ideal conditions for contemplation.
Second total eclipse in 2027
The following year, on August 2, 2027, a second total solar eclipse will occur, again near sunset. Given the midsummer timing, the weather is typically favorable for clear skies, allowing strong viewing opportunities.
In this case, the total eclipse will be more limited within Spain, though it will still be observable from neighboring Mediterranean regions. The most favorable zones stretch along the southern peninsula, from Cádiz to Málaga, while Seville and Granada should still witness a high degree of totality. Ceuta and Melilla will also experience the total event, making this a truly noticeable celestial display for the southern territories.
2028 annular eclipse
The timeline continues in 2028 with a remarkable annular eclipse on January 26. An annular eclipse differs from a total one because the Moon sits slightly farther from Earth, appearing smaller and leaving a bright ring around its silhouette. This creates a striking visual that many observers will remember for years to come.
Disruption to the annular event is minimal, with visibility extending across much of the country, from Ibiza and Formentera to Valencia, Castellón, Alicante, Murcia and up through Granada, Córdoba, Seville, Málaga and Cádiz. The Canary Islands will not experience the most dramatic phase, but the phenomenon remains compelling across the broader region.
Observers should protect their eyes with glasses or other approved solar viewing tools. Ordinary smoked glass, dark plastics, or improvised filters are unsafe and can cause irreversible harm when looking at the Sun without proper protection.
Further information about the edges and essential features of each eclipse can be found on this page with clear, attributed notes for context.