Total Solar Eclipse 2026: City-wise timings to watch the rare August 12 event in US and Europe

Skywatchers should mark their calendars as we are about to witness a rare total solar eclipse next month. On August 12, dozens of cities will experience at least a partial eclipse across the US, Canada, Europe and Africa in what would be the second solar eclipse of 2026. In the US, the cities witnessing the partial eclipse range from Alaska to North Carolina whereas a few Spanish cities in Europe will be the best places to watch the total eclipse. According to EarthSky, this is the first total solar eclipse to be visible in mainland Spain since 1905.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun. As the Moon completely blocks the Sun, it casts a dark shadow on Earth for a brief time called totality. Regions where the path of totality crosses see a total solar eclipse whereas locations outside this path get a partial solar eclipse. 

Cities set to witness total solar eclipse

According to NASA, the eclipse will begin in a remote region of northern Russia as the day begins, and the path of totality runs through Greenland to the European cities. Here’s where totality will be seen on August 12 (all times are local time for European cities):

Solar eclipse in US cities and timings 

In Alaska and even northern Canada, the partial eclipse will start and end in the morning whereas in the northern contiguous US, it will begin around midday. Following are the American cities and timings of the eclipse (all times are local time for American cities). 

Anchorage, Alaska: Eclipse begins at 7:36 am and ends at 9:09 am with 28 per cent coverage 

Bangor, Maine: Eclipse begins at 12:54 pm and ends at 2:49 pm with 24 per cent coverage

Boston, Massachusetts: Eclipse begins at 1:01 pm and ends at 2:46 pm with 16 per cent coverage

Detroit, Michigan: Eclipse begins at 1:03 pm and ends at 2:08 pm with 3 per cent coverage

Fairbanks, Alaska: Eclipse begins at 7:37 am and ends at 9:18 am with 37 per cent coverage 

Juneau, Alaska: Eclipse begins at 7:41 am and ends at 9:08 am with 17 per cent coverage 

New York City, New York: Eclipse begins at 1:07 pm and ends at 2:38 pm with 9 per cent coverage 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Eclipse begins at 1:11 pm and ends at 2:35 pm with 7 per cent coverage 

Portland, Maine: Eclipse begins at 12:57 pm and ends at 2:27 pm with 19 per cent coverage 

Washington, D.C.: Eclipse begins at 1:17 pm and ends at 2:27 pm with 4 per cent coverage

Solar eclipse in European cities and timings

The upcoming total solar eclipse will be the first in mainland Europe since 1999. Several cities in the UK and Ireland along with France, Belgium, Switzerland and northern regions of Italy will see as much as 95 per cent of coverage during the event. Following are timings of the eclipse in different cities (all times are local time).

Barcelona, Spain: Eclipse begins at 7:35 pm and ends at 8:54 pm with 99 per cent coverage 

Berlin, Germany: Eclipse begins at 7:15 pm and ends at 8:38 pm with 85 per cent coverage

Dublin, Ireland: Eclipse begins at 6:12 pm and ends at 8:05 pm with 94 per cent coverage 

Kraków, Poland: Eclipse begins at 7:18 pm and ends at 8:04 pm with 64 per cent coverage 

Lisbon, Portugal: Eclipse begins at 6:39 pm and ends at 8:29 pm with 95 per cent coverage 

London, U.K.: Eclipse begins at 6:17 pm and ends at 8:06 pm with 91 per cent coverage 

Madrid, Spain: Eclipse begins at 7:36 pm and ends at 9:16 pm with 99 per cent coverage 

Milan, Italy: Eclipse begins at 7:27 pm and ends at 8:35 pm with 92 per cent coverage 

Nuuk, Greenland: Eclipse begins at 3:30 pm and ends at 5:39 pm with 79 per cent coverage

Oslo, Norway: Eclipse begins at 7:02 pm and ends at 8:49 pm with 83 per cent coverage

Paris, France: Eclipse begins at 7:22 pm and ends at 9:09 pm with 92 per cent coverage

Stockholm, Sweden: Eclipse begins at 7:03 pm and ends at 8:46 pm with 81 per cent coverage 

Vienna, Austria: Eclipse begins at 7:22 pm and ends at 8:13 pm with 85 per cent coverage

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