One of the biggest talking points of summer 2026 is undoubtedly the solar eclipse occurring on August 12.
But will you be able to see it from your location? And which regions will see a total solar eclipse?
Read on for our quick guide to this summer’s eclipse spectacle.
Credit: Samere Fahim Photography / Getty Images
While the UK sees a deep partial eclipse shortly before sunset, in Europe the eclipse takes place just minutes before the Sun goes down.
Meanwhile, in North America, some regions will see a small partial eclipse.
Northeastern states in the US and southeastern provinces in Canada will see a small partial eclipse between around 1:00–2:30pm EDT.
In the US, Presque Isle in Maine will see a maximum 28% eclipse, reducing to just 10% in New York City and 7% in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Map showing the path of the 12 August 2026 total solar eclipse. The path of totality is represented by a dark, thin line. Either side of that line, observers will see a partial solar eclipse. Credit: BBC Sky at Night Magazine / Paul Wootton
In Canada, St John’s in Newfoundland will see a 53% eclipse, reducing to just 18% in Montreal and 8% in Toronto.
In Europe, as in the UK, there will be a deep partial eclipse away from the path of totality, which sweeps Spain from Galicia and Asturias on the Atlantic coast to Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands on the Mediterranean.
Berlin will see 85% and Paris 92%, while Barcelona and Madrid in Spain will see a tantalizing 99%.
Expect photographers to be out in force along the sunset line to see a very deep partially eclipsed sunset from locations including Corsica (96%), Venice (91%) and Vienna (87%), as well as Algiers, the capital of Algeria (98%).
12 August 2026 solar eclipse times for UK cities
City
Duration
Greatest eclipse
Time, greatest eclipse
Edinburgh
18:08–20:00
90.7%
19:05pm BST
Glasgow
18:08–20:00
91.4%
19:06pm BST
Belfast
18:10–20:03
93.1%
19:08pm BST
Leeds
18:12–20:03
90.8%
19:09pm BST
Manchester
18:13–20:03
91.4%
19:10pm BST
Liverpool
18:13–20:04
91.8%
19:10pm BST
Sheffield
18:13–20:03
91%
19:10pm BST
Birmingham
18:15–20:05
91.8%
19:11pm BST
Cardiff
6:16–8:07pm
93.2%
19:13pm BST
London
6:17–8:06pm
91.4%
19:13pm BST
12 August 2026 solar eclipse times for North America
Region
City
State/province
Max.
Time
Eastern Canada
Ottawa
Ontario
15%
13:42 EDT
Montréal
Quebec
18%
13:45 EDT
Québec City
Quebec
24%
13:46 EDT
Saint John
New Brunswick
28%
14:55 ADT
Halifax
Nova Scotia
31%
15:00 ADT
St. John’s
Newfoundland and Labrador
53%
15:35 NDT
Northeast US
New York City
New York
9%
13:54 EDT
Rochester
New York
9%
13:43 EDT
Boston
Massachusetts
16%
13:55 EDT
Burlington
Vermont
17%
13:48 EDT
Acadia National Park
Maine
23%
13:54 EDT
Caribou/Presque Isle
Maine
29%
13:50 EDT
Send us your eclipse images by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com