Overview
- The Moon will cover roughly 90–96% of the Sun across the UK on Wednesday 12 August 2026, producing the most dramatic eclipse visible in the country since 1999.
- Exact local timings vary so viewers should check city-specific schedules; for example Edinburgh and Glasgow see first contact near 6:08pm with a peak around 7:05pm while Cardiff’s first contact is about 6:17pm with a peak near 7:12pm.
- Southwest England, including Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, will see the greatest obscuration (about 96%) while sites with clear western horizons such as the Llŷn Peninsula, Gower and coastal hilltops are recommended for the best views.
- Health bodies and astronomers warn that looking at the Sun without ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses or indirect projection methods can cause painless, permanent retinal damage and they are advising caution about counterfeit or inadequate eyewear.
- The eclipse will be followed the same night by the Perseid meteor shower peak, and observers who cannot travel to totality zones can use organised livestreams and scientific broadcasts that are planned for the event.