Where and When Can You See the 2026 Solar Eclipse?
The total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026. The path of totality—the region where the sun will be fully obscured—passes through northern Spain, parts of Portugal, western Iceland, and eastern Greenland. Major cities like Barcelona and Madrid will witness a dramatic partial eclipse, but only specific regions will experience full totality for up to two minutes. Partial eclipse views will reach much of Europe and even parts of North America, but coverage will vary greatly by location.
- In Iceland, totality lasts up to 2 minutes at Snæfellsjökull, starting around 5:45pm local time.
- In Spain, Gijón sees totality for 1 minute and 46 seconds (starting at 8:26pm), while Barcelona and Madrid see the sun covered by over 99%.
- London experiences about 91% coverage (7:13pm local), while far northern North America will only get a minor eclipse.
Confirming your viewing location, and local timing, is critical for planning your shoot. Interactive eclipse maps and official astronomy resources can help pinpoint the exact viewing windows for your area.
What Gear and Settings Should You Use to Photograph the Eclipse?
Selecting the Right Equipment
Gear choices depend on your intended style of eclipse photos:
- Telephoto shots of the sun: Use a telephoto lens (at least 500mm) or a phone with around 20x optical zoom. This is ideal for capturing eclipse phases and details like Baily’s Beads or the diamond ring effect.
- Wider environmental shots: Standard or wide lenses let you incorporate landscape, people, or landmarks—great if the sun will be low in the sky.
- Cameras: Mirrorless and DSLR cameras with manual exposure offer the most creative control, but modern smartphones can produce solid results—especially with manual settings, RAW capture, and a stable tripod.
Safety Essentials and Shooting Techniques
- Use a certified solar filter on your lens for all eclipse phases, except for the brief moment of totality—this protects both your camera sensor and your eyes. Remove the filter only when the sun is entirely covered.
- Solar eclipse glasses are absolutely necessary for safe viewing at all times, except during totality itself.
- Compose using your camera’s LCD screen rather than a viewfinder to avoid direct sun exposure to your eyes, and a tilting screen or tripod makes setup and sequencing easier.
Camera Settings to Start With
- Set your camera to manual mode for full control over exposure. Start with low ISO (100–200), moderate aperture (f/8–f/16), and adjust shutter speed for correct exposure—bracketing can help capture a range through the different phases.
- Practice focusing manually on the sun before the event, and consider burst mode for the dramatic moments of totality.
What Should You Photograph During an Eclipse?
- First Contact: The moon begins to cover the sun—start capturing sequences with your solar filter installed.
- Partial and Approaching Totality: Look for unique crescent shapes in shadows and experiment with composition. Sequences showing the sun’s changing shape are popular.
- Diamond Ring and Baily’s Beads: Just as totality begins or ends, brief brilliant effects occur—capture these by timing your shots carefully.
- Totality: Remove the solar filter and capture the sun’s corona, possibly with stars or the landscape. Don’t forget environmental photos to show how the world changes around you: dimming daylight, observers’ reactions, and shifting colors.
- Third Contact and Egress: As sunlight re-emerges, the dramatic moments play out in reverse—replace your filter immediately to protect your eyes and gear.
Plan your sequence in advance, and practice before the eclipse with the same gear and settings. This ensures you’re ready for the fleeting moments when the eclipse is at its peak.
Takeaway: Making the Most of the 2026 Solar Eclipse for Photographers
The 2026 solar eclipse is a rare photography opportunity, especially for those in Europe. Scope out your location and timing as early as possible, double-check your equipment (including solar filters and eclipse glasses), and consider your creative approach—whether that’s close-ups of the sun or wide shots capturing the experience. Safe viewing and careful preparation are non-negotiable. If this is your first eclipse, start simple, enjoy the spectacle, and don’t lose sight of the experience chasing the perfect exposure. For many, the memory outshines any single shot.