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A total solar eclipse will cross Spain from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean, marking the first time in more than a century that the phenomenon will be fully visible from the country. The event will occur on Aug. 12, 2026.
The eclipse will peak at approximately 6:30 p.m. GMT, with totality lasting about two minutes, depending on the location.
The Spanish government has designated the Yebes Observatory in Guadalajara as the official monitoring center for the event. The observatory is an important part of global radio astronomy networks.
The path of totality will pass through several major cities, including A Coruna, Oviedo, Leon, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Valencia, and Palma de Mallorca.
Galicia and the Cantabrian coast will be the first regions to experience totality. Recommended viewing locations include Llas Beach in Lugo, Punta Roncadoira Lighthouse, and Cathedrals Beach, where totality is expected at approximately 6:29 p.m. GMT.
The cities of A Coruna, Oviedo, Santander, and Bilbao are all within the totality band.
Further inland, low light pollution and clear skies make areas such as the Babia Biosphere Reserve in Leon, the Picos de Europa and the Ebro Valley favorable viewing locations.
In Navarre and Aragon, the Bardenas Reales, a semi-desert landscape, is considered among the best sites due to its wide, unobstructed horizon.
Leon, Burgos and Zaragoza also lie directly in the eclipse's path and offer favorable weather conditions.
The eclipse path will end along the Mediterranean coast, where totality will occur just before sunset. Castellon, Valencia, and Palma de Mallorca are among the last locations in Spain to observe the full eclipse.
Open areas such as the Albufera de Valencia and the Mallorcan coastline offer unobstructed views of the sea to the west.
The event has already led to a significant increase in accommodation demand within the totality band. In Teruel, lodging prices for the night of Aug. 12 range from about €300 ($351) for a modest hostel to €1,400 for a private apartment.
In Burgos, no accommodation is available for less than €600, with one 60-square-meter (645-square-foot) apartment listed at €5,000.
Experts recommend selecting viewing locations with a clear western horizon, away from buildings or elevated terrain, since the eclipse will occur with the sun low in the sky.
The Aug.12 event is the first of three major eclipses Spain will experience between 2026 and 2028. A second total solar eclipse, with an unusually long totality of six minutes, will cross southern Spain on Aug. 2, 2027, followed by an annular eclipse in January 2028.
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