Millions of people all around the world are already getting extremely excited about next year’s total solar eclipse and Mallorca, the Balearics in general, is going to be one of the best locations to experience it with hotels already being booked up for the key date - Wednesday, August 12. This is the first total solar eclipse in continental Europe since 1999 and the first visible from mainland Spain since 1912. It is part of a rare “triad” of major solar eclipses visible from the Iberian Peninsula in consecutive years (2026, 2027, and 2028).
The path of the moon’s shadow will cross Spain from the northwest coast (Galicia) to the Mediterranean coast and the Balearics. Major cities within the path of totality include A Coruña, Oviedo, León, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Valencia, and Palma. The eclipse will occur in the late afternoon and early evening, close to sunset, which means observers will need a clear view of the western horizon.
In Palma, the partial phase begins around 7:38 PM, with totality at approximately 8:31 PM (local time). And, according to NASA , the eclipse promises an astronomical spectacle of short but intense duration, lasting up to 1 minute and 32 seconds in Spain, especially the Balearics.
The Spanish government, aware of the magnitude of the event, established in 2025 a robust inter-ministerial commission, made up of representatives from 13 ministries, dedicated to managing all aspects of the eclipse. The strategic group focuses its efforts on logistics, public safety and maximising positive economic impact, especially in rural areas that will be privileged observation points.
The last total eclipse in continental Europe occurred on March 29, 2006 and in continental part of European Union it occurred on August 11, 1999. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible in Iceland since June 30, 1954, also Solar Saros series 126 (descending node), and the only one to occur in the 21st century as the next one visible over Iceland will be in 2196. The last total solar eclipse in Spain happened on August 30, 1905 and followed a similar path across the country. The next total eclipse visible in Spain will happen less than a year later on August 2, 2027.