Overview
- A total solar eclipse will cross the Iberian Peninsula on 12 August 2026 and will produce a band of totality across much of northern Spain, with local timings and durations published by the Instituto Geográfico Nacional.
- Opticians and health authorities warn that looking at the sun without ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses can cause irreversible retinal burns and permanent central vision loss, and they advise keeping protection on except for the brief seconds of totality if you are inside the path.
- Municipalities are organizing public measures to manage crowds and safety, including designated miradores for viewing, free municipal distribution of certified glasses (for example, the Concello de Ames plans to hand out 2,000 units) and limits on how many glasses households may collect.
- Transport authorities have proposed temporary traffic controls to reduce roadside stopping and improve safety, with some areas reporting bans on truck circulation on the eclipse day to keep major roads clear for ordinary traffic.
- Science centers and planetaria are running outreach programs and immersive shows such as 3CLIPSE and Trío de eclipses to educate the public about safe observation, and in A Coruña the IGN lists totality there as about 76 seconds with published start, maximum and end times.