Europe experienced its first total solar eclipse in 27 years, with the path of totality crossing parts of Spain, Portugal, Greenland, Iceland and northern Russia. About one billion people saw the skies darken either fully or partially. Public watch parties — from the Royal Observatory Greenwich to parks and stadiums — drew crowds, although many struggled to find certified eclipse glasses beforehand. The event was visible as a partial eclipse across much of Europe, parts of North America and northwestern Africa.
Europe’s First Total Solar Eclipse in 27 Years Draws Crowds Across the Continent
The Moon crosses in front of the Sun during a solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, in Cadiz, Spain. It was the first time a total solar eclipse, when the sun is blocked by the moon's orbit, could be viewed from Spain since 1905.(Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images)
On Wednesday, millions looked skyward as Europe experienced its first total solar eclipse to cross the continent in 27 years. The Moon passed directly between Earth and the Sun, briefly blocking sunlight and casting darker skies for people along the path of totality and partially darkening skies for many more.
Where Totality Was Visible
The path of totality crossed parts of Spain (including mainland and the Balearic Islands), sections of Portugal, Greenland, Iceland and northern Russia — marking the first total eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999. Large swathes of Europe, along with parts of Canada, northwestern Africa and sections of the northern United States, observed a partial eclipse.
Public Viewings and Reactions
Institutions, public parks and sporting venues hosted watch parties. London’s Royal Observatory Greenwich organised public viewings, and crowds gathered in places such as Madrid’s El Cerro del Tio Pio, Munich’s Olympic Park and stadiums in London and Salzburg where the eclipse was shown on big screens. Clear skies in many locations made the spectacle easy to see, though many attendees reported difficulty finding certified eclipse glasses in advance — an important safety precaution for viewing the Sun.
Images From Across the Continent
Below are captions from gatherings and viewing points across Europe:
- Spectators wearing protective glasses to observe a partial eclipse in Prague.
- A fan records the eclipse on his mobile phone before the Arsenal vs. Como Calcio friendly at Emirates Stadium in London.
- Residents and visitors gather in El Cerro del Tio Pio park in Madrid to watch the total eclipse.
- Onlookers observe the partial eclipse at Olympic Park in Munich.
- A stadium screen displays a live feed of the eclipse ahead of the UEFA Super Cup match in Salzburg.
- A beachgoer wearing eclipse glasses watches the initial phase at Puerto de Sagunto near Valencia.
- A sunflower field is silhouetted as the Moon crosses the Sun in Osorno, Spain.
- Beach visitors observe totality at Arenal beach in Llucmajor on Mallorca.
- The Moon fully covers the Sun during totality as captured from the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory near Teruel.
Safety note: Observers should only use certified solar filters or eclipse glasses when viewing any partial phases of a solar eclipse. Looking directly at the Sun without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage.
People wear protective glasses to observe a partial solar eclipse in Prague.(Eva Korinkova/Reuters)
A fan uses his mobile phone to take a video of the solar eclipse prior to the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal FC and Como Calcio at Emirates Stadium in London.(Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
People gather in El Cerro del Tio Pio park in Madrid to observe the total solar eclipse.(PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU AFP via Getty Images)
People watch the solar eclipse at Olympic Park in Munich.(Fariha Farooqui/Reuters)
A video feed of the solar eclipse is shown on a stadium display before the UEFA Super Cup soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria.(Darko Vojinovic/AP)
A beachgoer wearing special eclipse glasses looks up during the beginning phase of the solar eclipse at Puerto de Sagunto beach near Valencia, Spain.(Alberto Saiz/AP)
A sunflower field is silhouetted as the moon moves across the sun during the solar eclipse in Osorno, Spain.(Jon Nazca/Reuters)
People observe the total solar eclipse at Arenal beach in Llucmajor on the Balearic island of Mallorca.(Jaime REINA / AFP via Getty Images)
The moon completely covers the sun during the total solar eclipse, as seen from the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory in Arcos de las Salinas, near Teruel, Spain.(Christian Hartmann/Reuters)
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