Spain is preparing for a rare astronomical spectacle on Wednesday as a total solar eclipse sweeps across parts of the country, marking the first total eclipse visible from mainland Western Europe since 1999.
The eclipse will begin in northern Siberia before crossing the Arctic Ocean, eastern Greenland and western Iceland. The Moon’s shadow will then move across northern Spain, briefly touch northeastern Portugal and finish near sunset over Spain’s Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands. Cities including A Coruña and Bilbao are expected to experience totality at around 8:28 p.m. local time, while Madrid, Barcelona and much of the rest of Europe will witness a partial eclipse.
Spanish authorities are expecting huge crowds, with as many as six million people potentially gathering along the eclipse path. Around 660 official viewing locations have been prepared and more than 35,000 officers are being deployed as part of a nationwide safety operation.
The event comes amid extreme summer heat and heightened wildfire risks across Spain. Authorities are therefore urging spectators to use designated viewing areas, avoid activities that could spark fires and wear certified eclipse glasses when looking at the Sun.
The eclipse is expected to become one of Europe’s biggest astronomical events of 2026, drawing residents, scientists and thousands of international visitors to some of the continent’s best viewing locations.
