Will I see a total solar eclipse on the Canaries?

No. It is total only on the Spanish mainland. On the Canaries it is partial, with around 70 percent of the Sun covered — still a rare spectacle.

When exactly does it happen?

On 12 August 2026. On the Canaries it begins around 18:58, reaches its maximum around 19:53 and ends around 20:45 local time — that is, around sunset.

Where's the best place to watch?

Somewhere with a clear view west to the horizon, ideally on the west coast or elevated. Eastern slopes are unfavourable, because the Sun is already setting there.

How do I protect my eyes?

Only with certified eclipse glasses or a tested solar filter. No home remedies, no ordinary sunglasses, no unfiltered binoculars or telescope.

When's the next chance?

In Spain, another total eclipse follows on 2 August 2027 (with even higher coverage on the Canaries), and an annular one in 2028. After that, not until 2053.

Solar eclipse 12 August: what the Canaries will see

Solar eclipse on 12 August: why the Canaries miss the best of it — and still get a dream sunset

"Total solar eclipse coming to the Canaries!" — that's the line doing the rounds. It's only half true. On 12 August 2026 the Sun does indeed darken over Spain, and it is a once-in-a-century event. But the truly grand spectacle, totality, plays out on the mainland. On the Canaries the Sun will be "only" about 70 percent covered — yet right in the middle of sunset, promising one of the most unusual evening skies in decades. Here's what you can really expect.

20 June 2026 · By Lucía Medina Reyes · Canary Islands · 5 min read · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief

A partial solar eclipse in the sky: on 12 August the sun over the Canary Islands will be about 70% covered. (Photo: cita.news)

Let's clear up the misunderstanding currently haunting many headlines. Yes, on 12 August a total solar eclipse crosses Spain — the first fully visible from the Spanish mainland in over a hundred years. The zone of totality, where the Moon completely covers the Sun, runs right across the peninsula: from Galicia via Oviedo, León, Bilbao and Zaragoza to València and the Balearics. There it will go almost dark for a short while.

The Canaries, however, lie south of that zone. Here the Moon does not cover the Sun entirely, but "only" by about 70 percent. The full disc becomes a glowing, narrow arc — a "golden crescent", as the Canary Islands astrophysics institute IAC calls it.

Why it's still a special evening

Before disappointment sets in: a Sun covered by 70 percent is a rare and beautiful sight — and on the Canaries there's a stroke of luck on top. The eclipse almost exactly coincides with sunset. So the bitten-into Sun sits low and large over the western sea horizon, set in the warm colours of dusk. Experts expect one of the most striking summer sunsets in a long time.

But this very position has a catch you need to know: because the Sun sits so low, on some eastern and central-eastern slopes — such as central and eastern Tenerife and the eastern side of La Palma and El Hierro — the Sun has already set by the peak of the eclipse. There you won't see the maximum at all.

First things first: eye protection

A partial eclipse is no licence to look at the Sun — quite the opposite. As long as even part of the solar disc is visible, looking directly can permanently damage the retina, often without any pain at the time. Looking with the naked eye, through sunglasses, a smartphone, binoculars or a telescope without a special filter is dangerous.

Solar eclipse on 12 August: why the Canaries miss the best of it — and still get a dream sunset

Why it's still a special evening

First things first: eye protection

Frequently asked questions

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