August 12, 2026
Solar Eclipse 2026 in Iceland
Iceland was on the path of the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse.
This eclipse took place on 12 August 2026. This page is a record of it. The next total solar eclipse is on 2 August 2027.
On August 12, 2026, Iceland saw a total solar eclipse: the moon completely covered the sun along a path of totality crossing the country. 5 cities in Iceland were inside that path (sun 100% obscured). The longest totality was in Reykjanesbær at 1m 42s. Maximum eclipse came around 17:48 local time with the sun low in the west, so mountains, hills and buildings decided what many observers saw. Heliora replays the eclipse from any spot with the real terrain horizon.
Where in Iceland the 2026 eclipse was deepest
| City | Totality | Obscuration |
|---|---|---|
| Reykjanesbær totality | 1m 42s | 100.00% |
| Keflavík totality | 1m 42s | 100.00% |
| Hafnarfjörður totality | 1m 05s | 100.00% |
| Kópavogur totality | 1m 02s | 100.00% |
| Reykjavík totality | 59s | 100.00% |
| Akureyri | — | 97.86% |
Heliora replays the 2026 eclipse from any GPS coordinate in Iceland with the real terrain horizon, so you can see whether mountains hid the sun from a given spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What time was the 2026 solar eclipse in Iceland?
- Maximum eclipse came around 17:48 local time on August 12, 2026. The partial phase began about 1 hour earlier and ended about 1 hour after maximum. Times varied slightly by location within Iceland; the city pages list exact times.
- Where in Iceland was totality longest in 2026?
- The longest totality in Iceland was in Reykjanesbær (1m 42s). Spots near the centerline of the path had the longest totality. The sun was low in the west, so a clear, unobstructed western horizon mattered as much as the duration.
- How long did totality last?
- Totality lasted about 1 to 2 minutes for cities near the centerline of the path, and only seconds at its edges. The maximum anywhere was 2m 18s, over the North Atlantic.
- Do I need eclipse glasses?
- Yes. ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses are required during the partial phases of any solar eclipse, before and after totality. Only during totality itself can you safely look at the sun without protection. Looking at any part of the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun without certified glasses can cause permanent eye damage.
- When is the next total solar eclipse?
- On August 2, 2027. Its path of totality crosses the far south of Spain (Cádiz, Tarifa), Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia, with up to 6m 22s of totality near Luxor, Egypt, the longest on land between 1991 and 2114.
- Why did terrain matter for this eclipse?
- The sun was at low altitude (under 10° in many places) during totality. At that height even small hills, ridges or buildings on the western horizon could block the view entirely. Heliora uses free AWS Terrarium elevation data and a 360° ray-cast to show the real terrain horizon from any GPS coordinate, including for the replay of this eclipse.