Europe is entering a period of noteworthy astronomical events: three major solar eclipses in three consecutive years (2026, 2027, and 2028.) Each event offers unique viewing opportunities across the continent, from totality over Spain to an annular “ring of fire” visible from Portugal and beyond.

Total Solar Eclipse on 12^th August 2026

This is the first of the trio. The totality will be visible from Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and parts of Russia. Much of Europe will see a partial eclipse.

The European Space Agency (ESA) highlights Spain as one of the prime viewing locations, with the path of totality crossing the country in the evening.

You can follow the total solar eclipse with the European Space Agency (ESA), in person or online here.

Total Solar Eclipse on 2^nd August 2027

Just one year later, Europe experiences another total eclipse, an extremely rare occurrence. The total solar eclipse will be visible from Spain, northern Africa, and the Middle East, with partial visibility across most of Europe.

This eclipse, named “the eclipse of the century”, will be one of the longest of the 21st century, with over 6 minutes of totality in parts of Egypt.  

Annular Solar Eclipse on 26^th January 2028

The trilogy concludes with an annular eclipse, where the Moon is too distant to fully cover the Sun, producing the iconic “ring of fire.”
ESA confirms that annularity will be visible from Portugal, Spain, and parts of South America, while the rest of Europe will see a partial eclipse.

References for Further Reading

• Eclipses over Spain in 2026, 2027 and 2028, a presentation by the EPS Young Minds with hints to best prepare the events
• TimeAndDate: Eclipse listings 2026–2028
• European Space Agency: Solar eclipse: coming to Europe:
• EclipseWise: Detailed eclipse predictions and guides
• orbitalnodes.ai: Eclipse calendar through 2028