Europe Prepares for 2026 Total Solar Eclipse

Europe is preparing for a major total solar eclipse that is expected to trigger a surge in demand for certified eclipse glasses and temporarily reduce solar power generation. The eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse visible from Europe since 2006, with the path of totality crossing northern Spain, Portugal, Iceland, Greenland and northern Russia. London is expected to experience about 90% obscuration of the Sun, while large crowds have gathered at specialist retailers elsewhere. Shoppers in Paris reportedly waited more than two hours for glasses, distribution points in several Spanish regions have sold out, and pharmacies in central Madrid are selling certified pairs for €3 to €4. Prices in France range from €1.50 to €5.95. Retailers in London and Brussels are also reporting limited supplies, with one London shop restricting customers to one pair and a Brussels optician maintaining a waiting list after obtaining a last-minute restock. The eclipse is also expected to affect Europe’s electricity system by temporarily reducing solar generation. The grid operator association ENTSO-E estimates that output could decline by as much as 9.7 gigawatts between 19:15 and 21:30 CET, with Spain and Germany expected to experience the largest reductions. Solar power currently represents approximately 13% of Europe’s electricity generation. To manage the shortfall, grid operators have prepared control rooms, arranged backup generation and postponed scheduled maintenance. France’s RTE expects a reduction of around 1.8 gigawatts, while German operators are preparing for a drop of roughly 2 gigawatts. Despite the significant temporary change, transmission system operators do not expect the eclipse to endanger the security of Europe’s electricity supply.

Ahead of Wednesday’s total solar eclipse, shops and opticians across Europe are struggling to meet unusually high demand for certified eclipse glasses. Queues have formed in Paris, London and Brussels, while distribution points in parts of Spain have already sold out. The eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse visible from Europe since 2006, with the path of totality crossing northern Spain, Portugal, Iceland, Greenland and northern Russia. London is expected to experience about 90% solar obscuration, while shoppers in Paris reportedly waited more than two hours to purchase protective glasses. Prices vary across the region. Pharmacies in central Madrid are selling certified glasses for €3 to €4 per pair, while prices in France range from €1.50 to €5.95. A London retailer has limited customers to one pair each as stocks fell to roughly 100 pairs. In Brussels, optician Fouad Mehdaoui created a waiting list after arranging a last-minute restock. The eclipse is also expected to temporarily reduce solar-power generation across Europe. ENTSO-E, the association representing Europe’s transmission system operators, estimates that output could fall by as much as 9.7 gigawatts between 19:15 and 21:30 CET, with Spain and Germany facing the largest reductions. Solar power currently supplies about 13% of Europe’s electricity. Grid operators have prepared control rooms, arranged backup generation and postponed maintenance to manage the decline. France’s RTE expects a reduction of approximately 1.8 gigawatts, while German operators are preparing for a fall of around 2 gigawatts. Despite the scale of the temporary change, transmission system operators do not expect the eclipse to endanger the security of Europe’s electricity supply.

A rare total solar eclipse is set to cross Europe on August 12, 2026, generating a major influx of visitors to parts of Spain and other regions. The eclipse will begin in Russia’s remote Arctic north before passing over Greenland and Iceland. In Spain, where viewing conditions are expected to be especially favorable, the Moon’s shadow will travel diagonally from the northern Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean, producing less than two minutes of totality shortly before sunset. A partial eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, Canada, the northern United States and northwest Africa. The event is expected to attract millions of observers, driven by the growing popularity of eclipse tourism. Small Spanish communities that rarely appear on international travel itineraries have experienced an unprecedented surge in demand. Benavente, a town in northwestern Spain, has reportedly run out of accommodation, while its tourism office is receiving about 50 inquiries a day from visitors seeking advice on lodging, viewing locations and parking. Tourists are arriving from countries including Belgium, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Germany. Spain’s government expects eclipse-related tourism to contribute €347 million to the economy and bring more than 446,000 additional visitors to affected areas, particularly rural northern regions facing long-term population decline. The eclipse will also provide scientists with an opportunity to study the Sun’s atmosphere, solar winds and magnetic field. Authorities are concerned that the visitor surge could create serious risks. Forecast temperatures exceed 35°C across much of mainland Spain and may surpass 40°C in the northeast. A very high or extreme wildfire risk, crowded rural roads and as many as 1.5 million additional vehicle journeys could strain local infrastructure and emergency services. Municipalities have established observation areas and increased security, transport and emergency resources. Further eclipses are scheduled to cross southern Spain and northern Africa in 2027 and the Iberian Peninsula in 2028.

The only total solar eclipse of 2026 will take place on Wednesday, August 12, with the path of totality crossing remote areas of the Northern Hemisphere and parts of Europe. Totality will begin in extreme northern Russia at 17:00 UTC, or 1 p.m. Eastern time, then move across northeastern Greenland, western Iceland, the northern Atlantic and northern Spain before ending at about 2:45 p.m. ET. The entire progression from beginning to end will last roughly one hour and 45 minutes, while total darkness at any individual location will last about two minutes. The best opportunities to see totality will be in northern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain. Spain has not experienced a total solar eclipse since 1905. Although relatively few populated areas lie directly in the path, a broad region will experience a partial eclipse. About 230 million people are expected to see at least 90% coverage, including residents of major European cities such as Madrid, London and Paris. London will reach a maximum of 91% at 2:13 p.m. ET, while totality will reach Valencia, Spain, at approximately 2:30 p.m. ET. Parts of North America will see a partial eclipse, but coverage will be much lower than during the 2024 U.S. total eclipse. Fairbanks, Alaska, will see approximately 37% coverage, while Boston, New York City, Toronto and Philadelphia will see 16%, 9%, 8% and 7%, respectively. Viewers must use certified solar eclipse glasses throughout a partial eclipse. During the brief period of totality, glasses may be removed safely, but they must be worn again as soon as totality ends. CBS News will provide live coverage from Mallorca, Spain. The next total solar eclipse visible in the United States will occur in 2044, followed by a coast-to-coast eclipse in 2045 and another across the Southeast in 2052.