On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will cross the Northern Hemisphere. The Moon will completely block the Sun along a path that starts near the North Pole in far northern Siberia, sweeps south over the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, and reaches land across Greenland, western Iceland, and northern and eastern Spain before exiting over the Mediterranean. It is the first total solar eclipse since 2024 and the first to reach mainland Europe since 1999. NASA has published a dedicated page for the event, and its Scientific Visualization Studio released both a map and animations in the weeks leading up to the eclipse. NASA SVS

The eclipse happens to coincide with lunar perigee, which means the Moon is at the closest point in its orbit to Earth. When the Moon is closer, it looks slightly larger in the sky, and that extra size lets it cover the Sun for a bit longer. The longest anyone will experience the total blackout is 2 minutes and 18.2 seconds, according to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center eclipse map. That interactive Google map marks the point of greatest eclipse with a green marker, the point of greatest duration with a magenta marker, and uses yellow lines to show the time and position of maximum eclipse at 10-minute intervals. NASA notes that these predictions do not account for the lunar limb profile — the mountains and valleys along the Moon's edge — which can subtly shift the actual timing and extent of totality at any given location. NASA GSFC

For observers who want to see the full total phase, the prime viewing locations are western Iceland and northern Spain. Engadget

Iceland

In Iceland, the total phase is longest at Látrabjarg, on the westernmost cliffs, and is also visible from Reykjavík, Isafjordur, and other cities along the western coast. The partial phase begins at 4:42 PM GMT, totality begins at 5:43 PM GMT, and ends at 5:50 PM GMT. Reykjavík will see 100 percent of the Sun covered at 5:48 PM GMT. timeanddate.com

Spain

Spain offers an easier and warmer alternative. The path of totality crosses much more land there than in Iceland, and August temperatures in Spain are typically 20 to 30 degrees warmer than Iceland's. Cities with a full view of totality include Bilbao, Burgos, Palma, Santander, Valencia, Valladolid, and Zaragoza. León reaches 100 percent of the Sun covered at 8:33 PM CEST, and Valencia at 8:32 PM CEST. Madrid, just outside the central path, will see 99 percent of the Sun covered at 8:32 PM CEST. The partial phase in Spain begins at 7:30 PM CEST, with totality beginning at 8:26 PM CEST. timeanddate.com Engadget

A small corner of Portugal also falls within the path. Montesinho Natural Park in Bragança, at the country's northeast border, will experience totality. Engadget

Remote parts of Russia and Greenland will see the total eclipse as well, but these areas are difficult to reach without a specialized expedition. Engadget

Partial Eclipse Across Europe and North America

For the rest of Europe, the eclipse will be a deep partial, meaning the Moon covers most but not all of the Sun. Dublin reaches 94 percent coverage at 7:10 PM IST. London sees 91 percent at 7:13 PM BST. Paris records 92 percent at 8:17 PM CEST. Engadget

In North America, the partial eclipse is visible across northern parts of the United States and eastern Canada. New York City will see only about 9 percent coverage. St. John's, Newfoundland, fares better at 53 percent. Engadget

The Perseid Meteor Shower

August 12 also brings the annual Perseid meteor shower, which coincides with the eclipse date. Engadget For skywatchers in the path of totality, the Perseids could be visible during the brief window of darkness that totality provides, particularly in Iceland where totality occurs in the early evening and the August sky may be dark enough to catch meteors. In Spain, the late evening timing of totality (around 8:30 PM CEST) means the Perseids would be more visible after full darkness falls.

NASA announced on July 29 that it will provide coverage of the August 2026 Northern Hemisphere total solar eclipse, and its "What's Up: August 2026 Skywatching Tips," published July 31, confirms the path crosses northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain. NASA NASA

What This Means If You Want to Watch

The broader context here is that three things converge on August 12: the Moon is at its closest to Earth, the Perseid meteor shower peaks, and the path of totality passes through accessible parts of Europe. The two-minute-and-eighteen-second maximum duration is modest compared to some recent eclipses, but northern Spain stands out as the practical choice for most people, thanks to milder weather, warmer temperatures, and a wider stretch of land under the path. Iceland offers a more dramatic setting and an earlier window for totality, but the colder conditions and narrower land coverage make logistics harder. The 1999 precedent, when millions across Europe experienced totality, suggests that Spanish infrastructure along the path from Bilbao to Valencia will see significant demand in the days leading up to the event.