Partial solar eclipse of 12 August 2026 in the Canary Islands: times and how to watch it
Updated: August 2026. Times in local Canary time (WEST, UTC+1 in summer). Data verified with timeanddate and the IAC.
On Wednesday 12 August 2026, the Canary sky gave us one of the astronomical events of the year. While the north of mainland Spain saw a total solar eclipse that day, from the Canaries it appeared as a partial eclipse: the Moon passed in front of the Sun and covered it by around 70%. And one detail made it special: it happened almost at sunset, with the Sun very low over the western horizon.
Times by island
The times are almost identical across all the islands. In the two capitals:
Tenerife (Santa Cruz): begins at 18:57, maximum at 19:53, ends around 20:45–20:46.
Gran Canaria (Las Palmas): begins at 18:58, maximum at 19:53, ends at 20:45.
At maximum, the Sun was covered by around 70% (magnitude ~0.75). The percentage varied a little depending on where you were: above 66% across all the islands, close to 70% in the capitals and somewhat less (~68%) in the south of Tenerife. The whole event lasted almost two hours.
An eclipse at sunset: look west
That was the key to not missing it. The maximum happened with the Sun already very low, at just about 10 degrees above the horizon, and the final phase coincided almost exactly with sunset. The Sun was towards the west / west-northwest.
What does this mean for you? That you need a clear horizon towards the west-northwest. A building, a mountain or a hillside can block precisely the part of the sky where the eclipse happens. In Tenerife, moreover, the Teide massif and the terrain block the western horizon from many points in the east and the south, so choose your spot carefully.
Where to watch it
Look for a high or open spot with a clear view to the west:
Coastlines and viewpoints facing west / northwest, without mountains or buildings cutting off the horizon.
Elevated points overlooking the sea to the west.
If you want to fine-tune it, apps like Stellarium or ShadeMap help you check that the terrain will not block the Sun at that hour.
Since the Sun was low and over the sea, the eclipse came with a sunset as a backdrop. That is also the rule for the next ones: when the maximum falls close to sundown, the spot matters as much as the time.
And if you want to keep discovering the Canarian sky, astro-tourism companies such as Teide By Night (Tenerife) or AstroEduca (Gran Canaria) run guided telescope observations all year round.
Safety: never look directly at the Sun
This is non-negotiable. Because it is a partial eclipse, in the Canaries the Sun never stops being dangerous: there is no moment of total darkness when you could look with the naked eye.
⚠️ Always protect your eyes.
Do not look directly at the Sun, not even when it is 70% covered.
Use only certified eclipse glasses (ISO 12312-2 standard). Ordinary sunglasses, even several pairs at once, do not work.
Do not look at the Sun through binoculars, a telescope, a camera or a phone, not even while wearing eclipse glasses: these devices concentrate the light (like a magnifying glass) and can melt the glasses' filter and injure your eyes instantly. To use one of them, the certified solar filter must be fitted on the front, over the lens (the objective), never over your eyes.
A low Sun, near the horizon, can look softer and fool you: keep your protection on while it is above the horizon.
Even with certified glasses, do not look for more than 20 to 30 seconds at a time.
In summary
On 12 August 2026, from 18:57 until sunset, the Canaries saw a partial eclipse that covered close to 70% of the Sun, low, towards the west. What worked then still works for the next ones: a spot with a clear horizon to the west-northwest, a pair of approved eclipse glasses, and a sunset with a difference.
And the next one? The two upcoming eclipses visible from the Canaries fall on 2 August 2027 and 26 January 2028, both partial from the islands. You will find both here: The next solar eclipses visible from the Canary Islands.
Did you watch it from a viewpoint or a beach with a good view to the west? Tell us your favourite spot and we will share it with other readers ahead of the next eclipses. And remember: safety, always first.
Data verified with timeanddate and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), July 2026. Times may vary by seconds depending on your exact location.
