Overview
- The eclipse will sweep a narrow path of totality across parts of northern and eastern Spain on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with partial phases beginning around 19:30 and local totality occurring roughly between 20:27 and 20:34, with a maximum possible duration near 2 minutes 37 seconds.
- Officials and astronomers stress strict eye safety: observers must use ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses or proper solar filters for cameras and telescopes and may remove protection only during the seconds of totality.
- Regional contingency plans are active to manage large visitor flows, with the Basque LABI civil‑protection activation, Renfe and Madrid’s CRTM reinforcing trains and buses, and dozens of official observation points set up with expert staff.
- Science and media operations are in place for live global coverage: NASA and ESA will broadcast the event, NASA has deployed telescopes to Burgos, and Iberia is operating a research/streaming flight carrying Shelios project researchers.
- Viewers should choose sites with a clear western horizon to see the low‑sun totality, use tools such as IGN Eclipses and ShadeMap to check visibility, and prepare for local crowds, high temperatures and a small risk of cloud cover that could block the view.