Throughout history, solar eclipses have always aroused fascination and mobilized crowds, but they are rare phenomena in the Iberian Peninsula. In the summer of 2026, Europe will have its eyes on the region: a total solar eclipse will cross Spain on August 12th and will also be visible in Portugal, especially in the Trás-os-Montes region, where small towns may experience a few seconds without sunlight during the afternoon.
According to the Spanish digital newspaper HuffPost, the total solar eclipse of August 12, 2026 is being described by experts as the most important of the century in southern Europe.
The phenomenon, which occurs when the moon comes between the Earth and the sun, will be the first total eclipse visible on the Iberian Peninsula in more than a hundred years, according to entities such as the National Solar Observatory in the United States.
Portugal will not be left out
Despite being off the main route, Portugal will also participate in this rare phenomenon. Scientific projections indicate that, in the municipality of Bragança, locations such as Rio de Onor and Guadramil could record a total eclipse lasting just a few seconds, according to Polígrafo.
Still, it will be an unprecedented moment, given that the country is not often in the path of total solar eclipses.
In the rest of the national territory, Portugal will see a significant reduction in sunlight, creating an unusual sunset that promises to surprise anyone who observes the phenomenon.
Spain will experience minutes of darkness
According to forecasts, the band of totality will cross Spain from west to east, passing through cities such as A Coruña, Oviedo, León, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Valencia and Palma de Mallorca. At these points, the absence of sunlight may last between one and two minutes, as reported in the digital newspaper.
As it is on the edge of the band, the neighboring country will receive the eclipse under special conditions: the effect will occur at sunset, increasing its spectacularity.
A spectacle that has been waiting for centuries
According to the same source, the last time Spain had the opportunity to observe a total eclipse of the sun was in 1905. Since then, the phenomena visible in the Iberian Peninsula have been only partial or annular. Therefore, this August 2026 event is being considered unique and is already on the calendars of astronomers and curious people.
Preparation and safety
With the eclipse scheduled for midsummer, weather conditions should be favorable. Still, it is important to highlight the importance of observing the phenomenon safely.
Only during brief moments of totality is it safe to look directly at the sun, as the intensity of sunlight can cause irreversible vision damage. The rest of the time, it is mandatory to use your own glasses with a certified filter or indirect projection methods.
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