The sunset on August 12, 2026, will bring the first total solar eclipse visible from the Iberian Peninsula in over a century. The path of totality will cross the Community of Madrid, with eleven municipalities as prime observation points.
On August 12, 2026, as evening falls, the sky over the Community of Madrid will darken for just over a minute. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the Iberian Peninsula since 1905, and the region has been busy preparing activities and observation points for citizens to enjoy it safely.
The path of totality, the narrow band where the Moon will completely cover the solar disc, will traverse the north and east of the Community of Madrid. There, the phenomenon will last between 30 and 90 seconds, depending on the location. The municipality of Somosierra will be the point where the eclipse lasts the longest: 1 minute and 29 seconds.
The partial phase will begin at 19:30, totality will occur at 20:32, and sunset will arrive at 21:17. Those wishing to follow the eclipse must do so with proper eye protection: special glasses that comply with the EN ISO 12312 2:2015 standard.
Eleven towns in the path of totality
The Community of Madrid has identified eleven municipalities from which the eclipse can be viewed in its entirety. In addition to Somosierra, the list includes Buitrago del Lozoya, La Cabrera, El Molar, Meco, San Agustín del Guadalix, Puerto de Navacerrada, Colmenar Viejo, Alcalá de Henares, Tres Cantos, and San Sebastián de los Reyes. In all of them, spaces with good visibility have been set up, and it is recommended to arrive early.
The Madrid City Council has established an official observation point in the Hortaleza district, specifically in the Valdebebas-Felipe VI Forest Park. This location, with extensive green areas and less light pollution than the urban centre, will allow attendees to sit or lie down comfortably to follow the eclipse. Additionally, the Hortaleza district has organised informative workshops and scientific outreach activities leading up to the event.
Special programming at the Planetarium and CaixaForum
The Madrid Planetarium has prepared a special programme for all audiences. Until August 12, the immersive film Trio of Eclipses can be viewed, a fulldome experience that explains how eclipses occur and how to observe them safely, with particular attention to the three major eclipses visible from Spain between 2026 and 2028. There will also be children's workshops, an English lecture by astrophysicist Alex Filippenko on August 6, and outreach activities until August 7.
Meanwhile, CaixaForum Madrid has been hosting various activities organised by the ”la Caixa” Foundation since June 1. Highlights include the talk The Science of Eclipses in History, given by Alba Vidal García from the National Astronomical Observatory on June 1; and the lecture Ready to See the Eclipse?, delivered by astrophysicist Kike Herrero on June 30, focusing on how, when, and where to safely view the total solar eclipse.
The Community of Madrid reminds that direct observation of the Sun without protection can cause irreversible eye damage. Eclipse glasses with the appropriate certification are essential, and indirect methods such as projection with a pinhole box can also be used.
For the people of Madrid, the date of August 12, 2026, is a unique opportunity: the next total eclipse visible from Spain will not occur until 2027, and the third in the series will not be until 2028. Those wishing to secure a good spot should plan their travel in advance to one of the official observation points or to the municipalities in the path of totality.
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