Overview
- The solar eclipse on 12 August 2026 will produce a narrow path of totality across parts of Iceland, northern Spain and Greenland while most of Germany will see a deep partial eclipse.
- In German cities the partial maximum occurs in the early evening with peak coverage around 20:11–20:12 local time and the Sun already low on the western horizon, so sunset will cut observation short in many places.
- Authorities and astronomy institutions are repeatedly warning that only certified ISO 12312-2 or CE eclipse glasses and approved solar filters for optics offer safe direct viewing because ordinary sunglasses and improvised methods can cause permanent retinal damage.
- Organizers, planetaria and amateur clubs have scheduled on-site events and livestreams and tourism operators report rapidly filling hotels and special trips in totality zones, especially northern Spain and parts of Iceland.
- The eclipse coincides with the Perseid meteor peak and falls inside an eclipse season that brings a partial lunar eclipse on 28 August 2026, a timing that has increased public interest and commercial offerings for the month.