Updated: 10 August 2026
Spain eclipse 2026: last-minute guide
Everything essential for 12 August: confirm your exact location, keep a flexible weather plan and protect your eyes.
Total eclipse in Spain
There is no single eclipse time for all of Spain
Totality occurs close to sunset and the circumstances vary by municipality. Check your coordinates in the official IGN eclipse viewer; never travel from a general path map alone.
AEMET forecast for the afternoon of 12 August
Updated 10 August: AEMET's municipal forecast now splits eclipse day into 12-hour periods. For 12:00–24:00 UTC (14:00–02:00 CEST), the period containing totality, it indicates:
- A Coruña: partly cloudy; 0% chance of precipitation.
- Oviedo: partly cloudy; 0% chance of precipitation.
- Burgos: clear; 0% chance of precipitation.
- Zaragoza: partly cloudy; 0% chance of precipitation.
- València: high cloud; 0% chance of precipitation.
- Palma: clear; 0% chance of precipitation.
This is encouraging, but it does not guarantee an unobstructed Sun at 20:30. The municipal forecast is automated and each category summarises twelve hours; the percentages are for precipitation, not the probability of clear sky or seeing the eclipse. Do not extrapolate beyond each municipality or make a long journey from this table alone. Check AEMET's hourly forecast and warnings before departure.
Heat during the wait
AEMET forecasts daily highs of 37°C in Burgos, 40°C in Zaragoza, 36°C in Palma and 33°C in València. These are not temperatures for eclipse time, but they do justify avoiding a long wait in direct sun: bring water, sun protection and shade, especially for children and vulnerable people.
Operational status
- Traffic: DGT has confirmed an extraordinary operation for the large concentrations expected inside the path of totality.
- Site: IGN stresses checking the exact municipality and finding a completely unobstructed western horizon.
Mallorca: do not assume access to Formentor
DGT warns that the normal Formentor access restrictions may change for the eclipse. The lighthouse road is already limited to authorised vehicles, while access to the beach closes when parking reaches capacity. Check the official Formentor access status and do not use the cape as your plan without confirmed transport and authorisation.
Your 48-hour operating plan
- Confirm totality: enter the exact site in the IGN viewer and save an offline screenshot.
- Check the western horizon: the Sun will be very low, so buildings, trees or terrain can hide the critical phase.
- Review AEMET: compare cloud, storm and wind forecasts for your primary site and two nearby alternatives.
- Avoid improvised travel: DGT expects major concentrations and special traffic measures. Prefer public transport, arrive early and wait before departing.
- Download essentials: offline maps, tickets, accommodation details, AlertCops and emergency numbers.
Eye safety: no shortcuts
Solar viewers should come from a reputable manufacturer or authorised dealer and conform to ISO 12312-2. An “ISO” mark printed on a product is not proof that it was properly tested. Inspect every viewer and discard it if scratched, punctured, torn or otherwise damaged.
- Ordinary sunglasses, smoked glass, X-rays and homemade filters are unsafe.
- Never use binoculars, a telescope or a camera without a solar filter secured over the front of the optics.
- Only observers inside the path may remove viewers during complete totality; replace them as soon as any bright Sun reappears.
- Supervise children throughout the observation.
Still need solar viewers?
Check the manufacturer, seller and documentation before buying; we do not treat a listing's safety claim as proof.
Search for American Paper Optics / Eclipser
An AAS-listed manufacturer. Buy direct or confirm that the seller is authorised by the manufacturer, then inspect every viewer on arrival.
Check Amazon →Paid link. Verify the manufacturer and authorised seller before buying.