Overview
- The total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026 will cross northern Spain at sunset, producing brief totality in a narrow band and late‑day viewing that requires clear western horizons.
- The national government and Grupo Social ONCE launched a campaign to distribute two million ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses through about 30 institutions across Spain.
- Cities and cultural sites from Madrid to Barcelona and San Sebastián are extending hours, offering guided programming and handing out homologated glasses to centralize safe viewing.
- The Directorate General of Traffic has warned that stopping on motorway hard shoulders to watch the eclipse is illegal and face‑covering fines and penalties for photographing while driving.
- Authorities expect a surge in travel and spending that could reach hundreds of thousands of extra trips and roughly €342 million in tourist revenue which is driving targeted traffic plans and local crowd management.