Is the eclipse total in the Canary Islands?

No. On the islands it is partial; according to Atlántico Hoy and the Museo Elder, up to 77% of the Sun is covered.

What time should I look?

Maximum coverage is around 19:55 local time; the events run from 18:30 to 21:30 (Atlántico Hoy).

Where is the best place to watch?

At one of the eight official atalayas cósmicas, or anywhere with a clear view west over the Atlantic.

How do I watch safely?

Only with glasses meeting EN ISO 12312-2:2015 or welder's glass shade 14; never with the naked eye or through unfiltered optics.

Are normal sunglasses enough?

No, never. Sunglasses give no protection against retinal damage.

CANARY ISLANDS · ASTRONOMY

Solar Eclipse on 12 August: Where to Watch It in the Canary Islands

On Wednesday 12 August 2026, the sky darkens over Spain. On the mainland it is, according to the Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN), the first total solar eclipse visible from the Spanish peninsula since 1905. In the Canary Islands the event will be experienced as a large partial eclipse.

12 August 2026 · By Julia Roca Bethencourt · 5 min · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief

Photo: ESA/CESAR/Wouter van Reeven, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo (Symbolbild).

According to Atlántico Hoy and the Museo Elder, from the islands the Moon will cover up to 77 percent of the solar disc – a golden crescent low over the Atlantic, close to sunset. Here is where, when and, above all, how to look safely.

What happens on 12 August

The Moon slides in front of the Sun. Across mainland Spain the path of totality sweeps from west to east, plunging the sky into darkness for around a minute and a half. The Canaries lie outside that band, so part of the Sun stays visible throughout. According to Atlántico Hoy and the Museo Elder, up to 77 percent of the disc will be covered – enough for a dramatic crescent, but without the full darkness of the mainland.

The Canaries: a large partial eclipse

Because the Sun is already low on the horizon at maximum, the eclipsed Sun looks like a golden croissant over the sea – an image highlighted by Atlántico Hoy and Canarias7. That is exactly why a clear western view matters: coastlines, beaches and elevated lookouts with an open outlook over the Atlantic offer the best chances.

The eight "atalayas cósmicas"

According to Atlántico Hoy, the Museo Elder and partners are setting up eight official observation points – one per island: calle Doctor Domingo Hernández Guerra in Tejeda (Gran Canaria); avenida del Emigrante in Playa de San Juan, Guía de Isora (Tenerife); plaza del Puerto de Caleta de Sebo (La Graciosa); paseo marítimo de La Santa in Tinajo (Lanzarote); Castillo de El Tostón in El Cotillo, La Oliva (Fuerteventura); plaza de San Pedro in Valle Gran Rey (La Gomera); playa de Los Tarajales in Tazacorte (La Palma); and La Maceta in La Frontera (El Hierro).

Times and how it unfolds

According to Atlántico Hoy, the observation events run between 18:30 and 21:30 local time, with maximum coverage around 19:55. Canarias7 reports the partial phase lasts nearly two hours in total. Arrive early and pick a spot with a clear western horizon, because at maximum the Sun will already sit just above the sea.

How to watch safely

Looking directly at the Sun is dangerous even at 77 percent coverage. Safe viewing is only possible with certified eclipse glasses bearing the marking EN ISO 12312-2:2015. According to Canarias7, free glasses will be handed out by the Museo Elder at the atalayas and by the ONCE (around 125,000 units through some 1,200 vendors). For blind and low-vision observers, Canarias7 names the LightSound device, which turns changes in light into sound.

Practical tip: Put your eclipse glasses on while facing away from the Sun, then look up – and turn away again before removing them.
For a telescope, binoculars or camera you need a certified solar filter fitted in front of the optics; eclipse glasses alone are not enough for that.

Caution: Ordinary sunglasses, X-ray film, exposed photographic film and unfiltered cameras do not protect your eyes. According to Canarias7, retinal burns can occur, with symptoms often appearing only about 48 hours later. Under NASA and American Astronomical Society (AAS) guidance, the only safe alternative is welder's glass of shade 14 or darker.

Key facts

Date: Wednesday 12 August 2026; total on the mainland, partial in the Canaries (IGN).
Coverage on the islands: up to 77% of the solar disc (Atlántico Hoy, Museo Elder).
Maximum around 19:55 local time; events 18:30–21:30, nearly two hours (Atlántico Hoy, Canarias7).
Eight official "atalayas cósmicas", one per island (Atlántico Hoy).
Free glasses at the sites and via the ONCE (around 125,000 units) (Canarias7).
Safety standard: glasses marked EN ISO 12312-2:2015 (AAS).

FAQ

Is the eclipse total in the Canary Islands?: No. On the islands it is partial; according to Atlántico Hoy and the Museo Elder, up to 77% of the Sun is covered.
What time should I look?: Maximum coverage is around 19:55 local time; the events run from 18:30 to 21:30 (Atlántico Hoy).
Where is the best place to watch?: At one of the eight official atalayas cósmicas, or anywhere with a clear view west over the Atlantic.
How do I watch safely?: Only with glasses meeting EN ISO 12312-2:2015 or welder's glass shade 14; never with the naked eye or through unfiltered optics.
Are normal sunglasses enough?: No, never. Sunglasses give no protection against retinal damage.

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