Total solar eclipse sweeps from Arctic to Europe

The only total solar eclipse of 2026 will darken skies Wednesday along a narrow path from the Arctic to Europe, giving millions of people a brief chance to see the moon completely cover the sun.

The eclipse will move across northern Russia, Greenland and Iceland before reaching Spain and a small part of Portugal. Along that path of totality, daylight will turn to near-night for about two minutes, with the longest totality lasting about two minutes and 18 seconds near the center of the route.

For Europe, it will be the first total solar eclipse visible to millions in 27 years. Spain, one of the best populated viewing areas, has not experienced a total solar eclipse since 1905, CBS News reported. Northern and eastern Spanish cities including Leon, Valladolid, Zaragoza, Teruel and Valencia are inside the path of totality. Madrid and Barcelona sit just outside it but are expected to see more than 99% of the sun covered.

The timing depends on location as the moon’s shadow races across Earth. The partial eclipse begins at the first location at 15:34 GMT, according to Al Jazeera. The total eclipse begins at about 16:58 GMT, reaches maximum at 17:46 GMT and ends globally at 18:34 GMT. In Reykjavik, Iceland, maximum eclipse is expected around 17:48 GMT, or 5:48 p.m. local time. Totality reaches Spain at about 18:27 GMT, with Valencia reaching totality at 8:32 p.m. local time, according to CBS News.

The path of totality is relatively short, lasting roughly one hour and 45 minutes from start to finish. Many of the best viewing spots are remote, including northern Greenland, but western Iceland and northern Spain offer more accessible chances to see the full eclipse.

A far larger audience will see a partial eclipse. Al Jazeera reported that about 980 million people — nearly one in eight worldwide — could see the sun at least partly covered, depending on weather. CBS News, citing population data from the Center for International Earth Science Information Network at Columbia University, reported that about 230 million people will be able to see 90% coverage.

Most of Europe will see a partial eclipse near sunset. Paris is expected to see roughly 92% of the sun covered, London 91% and Berlin 85%. CBS News reported that London will reach its maximum, 91%, at 7:13 p.m. local time. Farther east, the sun will set before the eclipse reaches its maximum in many cities.

North America will see only a partial eclipse. In Canada, St. John’s, Newfoundland, is expected to see about 53% coverage, while Montreal will see 18% and Toronto about 8%, with Toronto’s maximum at 1:40 p.m. local time. In the United States, Fairbanks, Alaska, will see about 37% coverage at 8:27 a.m. local time, and Anchorage about 28%. Coverage will be lower elsewhere: about 24% in Bangor, Maine, 16% in Boston, 9% in New York, 7% in Philadelphia and 3% in Detroit.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, blocking some or all of the sun’s light. During totality, the moon fully covers the sun’s bright face and the sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, becomes visible.

Eye protection is essential. Viewers should use certified eclipse glasses or a safe handheld solar viewer and check them for scratches or damage. Ordinary sunglasses are not safe. People in the path of totality may remove eclipse glasses only during the brief period when the sun is completely covered, then put them back on as soon as sunlight returns. Anyone watching a partial eclipse must keep protection on the entire time.

NASA will livestream the eclipse starting at 17:15 GMT. CBS News said it will begin streaming coverage at 2 p.m. ET, with Rob Marciano in Mallorca, Spain.

The next total solar eclipse will occur on Aug. 2, 2027, crossing southern Spain, North Africa, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The next total solar eclipse over the United States will be in 2044, visible in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, followed by a broader coast-to-coast U.S. eclipse in 2045.