Total Solar Eclipse 2026: Up to 96% of the Sun Vanishes Over the UK Today

The last time mainland Europe saw a total solar eclipse, the euro did not exist yet. That was August 11, 1999. Today, 27 years later, it is happening again.

A total solar eclipse is crossing eastern Greenland, western Iceland, northern Spain, and northeast Portugal today, August 12. Totality lasts up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds in the path's centre. For everyone in the UK and Ireland, the coverage reaches 90-96%, the deepest partial eclipse in nearly three decades.

Where and when to look

In Spain, totality arrives near sunset, creating dramatic low-angle viewing conditions that photographers have been planning for months. France, Belgium, Switzerland, and northern Italy see 88-95% coverage. For the UK, maximum eclipse hits between roughly 7:30pm and 8:15pm BST depending on location, with northern regions seeing the highest coverage.

The path of totality is relatively narrow, concentrated on northwest Spain and a slice of Portugal. But even well outside that path, the partial eclipse will be visually striking. At 96% coverage, the light drops to an eerie twilight, shadows sharpen, and the temperature can fall noticeably.

Eye safety is not optional

This is the part that matters most: you cannot look at a solar eclipse with bare eyes, regular sunglasses, or improvised filters. Not even for a few seconds. The infrared radiation from the sun can cause permanent retinal damage before you feel any pain.

You need certified eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard. VOLTNGO Solar Eclipse Glasses (ISO 12312-2 and CE certified) are available on Amazon and ship quickly. Camera and telescope users need proper solar filters rated for their equipment. A pinhole projector works too, if you want a low-tech option that is completely safe.

What makes this one special

For a generation of Europeans, this is the first total solar eclipse they have ever had the chance to see. The 1999 eclipse was the last one. For mainland Spain specifically, the previous total solar eclipse was in 1905.

The timing also coincides with the Perseid meteor shower peaking tonight, so if you are planning to watch the eclipse this evening, stick around after dark. The new moon that enables tonight's eclipse viewing also means zero moonlight competition for the Perseids. Up to 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions.

The next total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe is 2027, crossing Spain and North Africa on a different path. If the weather cooperates today, this is a once-in-a-decade evening.

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