RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 27 sourcesIssued on: 12/08/2026 - 14:13 Modified: 12/08/2026 - 22:40
By: Simon FEISTHAUER FOURNET Parts of Spain were briefly plunged into darkness on Wednesday as a solar eclipse that began in Iceland and the Arctic progressed across the continent. It was the first total eclipse to be seen from mainland Europe in two decades. Read our blog to see how the event unfolded.
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This event was the first in a series of three eclipses that will cross the Iberian Peninsula over the next three years.
People watch a partial solar eclipse at Northala Fields, London, on 12 August 2026. © AP
People watch the solar eclipse at Olympic Park in Munich on August 12, 2026. © Fariha Farooqui, Reuters
The partial solar eclipse as seen from Ombrée d'Anjou, France, on 12 August 2026.
Beachgoers watch a solar eclipse as the moon partially covers the sun and briefly dims the afternoon light along the coast of Fregene, near Rome, on August 12, 2026. © Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters
The Lakhta Centre business tower and Gazprom Arena stadium are pictured during a partial solar eclipse in Saint Petersburg on August 12, 2026. © Marina Lystseva, Reuters
The moon completely covers the sun during a total solar eclipse as seen from the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory in in Arcos de las Salinas, near Teruel, Spain, on August 12, 2026. © Christian Hartmann, Reuters
On Wednesday evening, millions of Europeans and enthusiasts from around the world gazed up at the sky in wonder as a rare total solar eclipse took place over northern Spain.
A large part of Spain switched from daylight into total darkness as the Moon covered the Sun, as thousands of spectators across the country looked on.
The total eclipse lasted less than two minutes in Lodoso, near Burgos, to the delight of thousands of people observing the phenomenon using special spectacles for safety, an AFP journalist at the scene said.
The "diamond ring" effect appears as the moon moves across the sun during a total solar eclipse, as seen from El Arenal beach in Mallorca on August 12, 2026. © Francisco Ubilla, Reuters
The moon completely covers the sun during a total solar eclipse, as seen from Arija, Spain, on 12 August 2026. © Reuters
The partial solar eclipse reached several regions in northern Spain, AFP journalists at Burgos, Tarragona and Colmenar Viejo near Madrid noted.
Several hundred people including many visitors from abroad and all wearing special protective glasses, gathered to watch the phenomenon in a field at Lodoso, near Burgos, an AFP journalist said.
David Garcia uses a sextant during the watch party for the solar eclipse, in Buitrago del Lozoya on August 12, 2026. © Susana Vera, Reuters
People wear protective glasses during the watch party for the solar eclipse, in Buitrago del Lozoya on August 12, 2026. © Susana Vera, Reuters
Artists use self-made artefacts to observe a solar eclipse before totality near the small village of Castell de Cabres on August 12, 2026. © Eva Manez, Reuters
The total solar eclipse plunged western Iceland into darkness, though heavy cloud cover blocked thousands of curious onlookers from seeing the sun disappear behind the moon, according to an AFP journalist.
Total darkness swept over Keflavik, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) southwest of the capital Reykjavik, at 5:47pm.
People gather to observe the total solar eclipse, as clouds cover the sky, in Reykjavik, Iceland on August 12, 2026. © Denis Balibouse, Reuters
People gather to watch the partial solar eclipse over Paris in Parc André-Citroën. © Amélia Maradas, FRANCE 24
A total solar eclipse, which will briefly plunge part of Europe into daytime darkness, began over a remote region of the Arctic, the Russian space agency Roscosmos said.
The rare astronomical event started at around 1700 GMT at the northernmost tip of mainland Russia and is set to cross the northern hemisphere, passing over Greenland before moving across the Atlantic Ocean.
A total solar eclipse begins in the Arctic on August 12, 2026 as seen on Icelandic broadcaster RÚV .
Across a swath of northern and central Spain, millions of people will have some of mainland Europe's best views of the celestial spectacle.
FRANCE 24's correspondent Sarah Morris reports from Segovia, Spain ⤵️
On Wednesday evening in mainland France the sky will be mostly clear, offering perfect conditions for observing the total solar eclipse.
At around 8pm, when the sun will momentarily be obscured by the moon, temperatures are expected to remain “very high across many regions, particularly in the west, often ranging between 30 and 35°C, and between 25 and 28°C along the English Channel”, according to the national weather forecaster.
"Visitors might consider the area around the Alcázar of Segovia as a vantage point," she said. "The castle will be closed at the time of totality, but the area around the Alcázar is publicly recognised as a good spot from which to view the Eclipse."
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