A Total Solar Eclipse is Coming in 2026
The last total solar eclipse happened on April 8, 2024, covering areas of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. Since then, the world has been treated to two partial solar eclipses, one March 29, 2025, and the other on September 21, 2025, as well as an annular solar eclipse on October 2, 2024.
But, for those who don't want to just experience a partial or annular eclipse, there's good news: A total solar eclipse is coming in 2026.
So, what's a total solar eclipse? According to research from NASA, "A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. People located in the center of the Moon’s shadow when it hits Earth will experience a total eclipse." Also, "the sky will darken, as if it were dawn or dusk."
Where Can You See the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse?
This year will bring a total solar eclipse, but only certain areas of the world will be able to experience it. The 2026 total solar eclipse will be visible from eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain on Aug. 12. According to NASA, totality will peak at two minutes 18 seconds close to Iceland. Also, it will mark mainland Europe’s first total solar eclipse since 1999.
"The path of totality for the August 2026 solar eclipse will begin in remote Siberia, cross eastern Greenland and western Iceland, and then sweep across northern Spain, before exiting just east of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean," Space notes in a Jan. 3 feature about the eclipse.
Space adds that those in "Greenland's Scoresby Sund, Iceland's Reykjanes and Snæfellsnes peninsulas, and the Spanish cities of Leon, Burgos and Valladolid will be within the path and see the sun's ghostly corona."
More Solar Eclipses on the Way
The Planetary Society adds that the eclipse "will also be visible to a lesser extent from parts of Europe, northern Asia and Africa, and North America. Totality will last a maximum of two minutes and 18 seconds."
According to NASA's solar eclipse calendar, on Feb. 17, 2026, an annular solar eclipse will be visible in Antarctica, plus a partial eclipse will be visible in Antarctica, Africa, South America, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
Looking ahead, NASA's solar eclipse calendar notes that the longest solar eclipse in 100 years is set to happen on Aug. 2, 2027. For this eclipse, the total phase will last six minutes and 23 seconds. The 2027 solar eclipse will impact areas of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.