The Path of Totality Returns to Europe
The last time a total solar eclipse swept across Europe was August 1999. Since then, there have been 18 total eclipses of the Sun, but only twice has the path of totality clipped the edge of the European continent: Georgia and Russia in 2006, and the Faroe Islands and Svalbard in 2015.
The path of totality is the area of the globe from which observers can see the Moon cover the Sun completely. Typically, the path is around 15,000 km (9000 miles) long—but only about 150 km (90 miles) wide.
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For eclipse-watchers in Spain, a potential snag is that totality will happen at around 20:30 (8:30 pm) local time. This is close to sunset, which means that getting a clear, unobstructed view of the Moon and Sun will be a challenge.
But on the evenings around April 29, eclipse-watchers can use an astronomical trick to check their line of sight well in advance.
An astronomical trick for Spain’s 2026 eclipseWe’ll Be Broadcasting Live from Spain
As it crosses Spain, the path of totality for this eclipse will be relatively wide: around 290 km (180 miles) across. The path runs through the country from the northern coastline to the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean—just missing the center of Madrid on one side, and Barcelona on the other.
Where will our mungfali.galihkartiwa07.workers.dev live broadcast team be? We’re planning to set up our base near the northwestern city of León. One of our key challenges was to find a location with a clear view to the western horizon, since totality for Spain happens in the evening, with the Sun low in the sky.
See the path of totality on our 3D globe