Spain and Iceland (2026 Total Eclipse)

Spain and Iceland are the two countries accounting for the vast majority of the population along the path and will be where almost all travelers plan their eclipse trips to. Here, we explore those areas in more detail.

ICELAND

The eclipse first crosses over the sparsely populated Westfjords region of Iceland, a large peninsula of ancient volcanic rock carved by glaciers into a dramatic coastline of narrow inlets and harbors. This will be an early evening eclipse in Iceland, with totality beginning after 5pm local time. However, the Sun doesn't set until almost 10pm on August 12, so perhaps it's best thought of as a late afternoon eclipse. Ísafjörður, the largest town in the area, albeit with a population of only about 2,600, is located inside the path and will get about 1 minute and 30 seconds of totality starting at about 5:44pm GMT.

The eclipse path next crosses over the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Even the largest towns here have no more than about 1,000 inhabitants. In Stykkishólmur, observers can expect about 1 minute and 28 seconds of totality. Closer to the western end of the peninsula is Ólafsvík, where the totality duration breaks the 2-minute mark at about 2 minutes and 3 seconds.

Farther south, the eclipse crosses over the Reykjanes Peninsula and the Reykjavík capital region, by far the most populated area of the country. Unfortunately, Reykjavík is located fairly close to the edge of the eclipse path, with about 59 seconds of totality starting at about 5:48pm GMT, with durations dropping quickly the farther east you go. You can add an additional 40 seconds or so to your experience by positioning yourself out on the Reykjanes Peninsula, where Iceland's main international airport is located.

The eclipse occurs in August—one of the warmest months in Iceland, when average highs reach into the Fahrenheit 50s. The bad news, of course, is that Iceland is generally known as a rather cloudy place. Even in the summertime, thick clouds are a constant threat.

*Map of Western Iceland created by Jay Anderson

SPAIN

Most of the northern coast of Spain is captured inside the eclipse path, including many sizable cities. Near the western, or southern, edge of the path, A Coruña will get about 1 minute and 16 seconds of totality starting at about 8:27pm CEST. Gijón is fairly close to the centerline, with totality lasting about 1 minute and 45 seconds. Even closer is Oviedo, with about 1:48, which is just a couple of seconds short of the maximum duration in Spain, which happens on the centerline when the path first enters the country. On the northern side of the path is Bilbao, the fifth largest city in Spain. However, Bilbao sits right on the edge of the path, so totality durations will be rather short here. The entire length of the eclipse track in Spain offers a relatively favorable chance of clear skies on eclipse day, especially when compared to Iceland.

Beyond the coast, the cities of León and Burgos are not far from the centerline, with totality durations of about 1 minute and 45 seconds and 1 minute and 43 seconds, respectively. Near the northern edge of the path is Vitoria-Gasteiz, where totality will clock in at about 1 minute and 2 seconds, while nearby Logroño improves on that with about 1:21. Almost halfway between the southern line and the centerline is Valladolid, which will enjoy a respectable duration of darkness of about 1 minute and 28 seconds.

Although the 2026 eclipse will be remembered almost exclusively as a Spanish event in this part of the world, it should be noted that the path of totality does technically cross over another country here on the Iberian Peninsula. As it sweeps across Spain, the southern line of the eclipse twice captures miniscule portions of Portugal inside the path.

As it continues to make its way through northern Spain, the path of totality tracks just north of Madrid. Although a few small areas in the northern reaches of the city manage to stretch into the path, almost all of Madrid will only experience a partial eclipse on August 12.

More large cities will be happily waiting in the crosshairs of totality as the eclipse heads toward Spain's Mediterranean coastline. Along the coast near the southern edge of the path is Valencia, the third largest city in the country. Although the city is closer to the edge of the path than might be preferable, it's still far enough inside for a totality duration of about 1 minute in the city center starting at about 8:32pm CEST. Castellón de la Plana is located farther north along the coast, approximately two-thirds of the way to the centerline, and will enjoy a generous dose of darkness lasting about 1 minute and 34 seconds. On the other side of the centerline, and about as close to the northern edge of the path as Valencia is to the southern edge, Tarragona will also get about a minute of totality.

With an exit strategy firmly in place, the 2026 eclipse leaves the European continent and heads out into the Mediterranean. But before it completes its long path across the planet, it's not yet finished with Spain. With the clock ticking down to sunset, the eclipse races across the Balearic Sea and crosses over all four of Spain's Balearic Islands. Both Mallorca and Ibiza, popular with Sun-loving tourists all year round, are intriguing possibilities for an eclipse viewing in 2026. The islands, especially their coastlines, also offer some of the best weather prospects along the entire eclipse path. All things considered, Mallorca is probably the best bet here. The centerline cuts right across the island, just south of the city of Palma, still ensuring a relatively decent duration of totality—about 1 minute and 36 seconds in the city starting at about 8:31pm CEST—for an eclipse nearing its end that was already short to begin with. Finally, not long after the eclipse path crosses the islands, the sun sets and the 2026 eclipse vanishes into the history books forever.

*Map of Spain created by Jay Anderson

Special Note (Sunset Eclipse): By the time the 2026 eclipse reaches Spain, evening will have arrived across the country. By the time totality comes to the Mediterranean, the Sun will be close enough to setting that it affords eclipse chasers in the Balearic Islands the relatively rare opportunity to witness a "sunset eclipse." It's not that a sunset eclipse itself is rare. Every total solar eclipse begins somewhere on Earth at sunrise and ends somewhere else on Earth at sunset. But considering that most of the planet's surface is covered by water, it's not often that the path of totality just happens to begin or end on land.