When is the next eclipse? The next solar eclipse is the annular (“ring of fire”) eclipse of 6 February 2027, seen along a path across Chile, Argentina and Uruguay and over the South Atlantic to West Africa. The next lunar eclipse is a subtle penumbral eclipse on the night of 20/21 February 2027 (maximum around 23:13 UTC), visible from Europe, Africa, western Asia and the eastern Americas. The next total solar eclipse is on 2 August 2027, with totality over southern Spain, Gibraltar, North Africa, Egypt (about 6 minutes near Luxor) and Saudi Arabia. The 2026 eclipses have already taken place and remain below as an archive. Updated 24 September 2026; dates checked against the NASA eclipse catalogues.
To connect night-sky observations with a wider northern travel plan, see the North section.
NORTH
North: Iceland, Norway, northern lights and Lofoten
A dedicated OndaTravel section for northern trips: Iceland, Norway, fjords, Lofoten, northern lights, ready-made routes and planning tools.
Eclipses 2027–2028 — in short
Eclipses are worth planning in advance, because the observation depends not only on the date, but also on the place, the time, the weather and visibility from a given location. For a solar eclipse eye safety matters most, and for a lunar eclipse — a clear sky and good visibility of the horizon.
Night-sky observation calendars and tools
LIVE: next eclipse and countdown
Eclipse calendar 2027–2028 – solar and lunar
| Date | Type | Key facts | Where it can be seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 February 2027 | Solar – annular | “Ring of fire”; annularity up to 7 min 51 s | Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, the South Atlantic and West Africa (Abidjan, Accra, Lomé, Lagos); partial across much of South America and Africa |
| 20/21 February 2027 | Lunar – penumbral | Only a subtle shading of the Moon; maximum ~23:13 UTC | Europe, Africa, western Asia and the eastern Americas |
| 18 July 2027 | Lunar – penumbral (extremely shallow) | Magnitude 0.001 – practically invisible | Not worth planning an observation |
| 2 August 2027 | Solar – total | Totality up to 6 min 23 s, the longest near Luxor | Totality: southern Spain (Cádiz, Málaga), Gibraltar, Ceuta, Morocco (Tangier), Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Mecca), Yemen, Somalia; partial across Europe, Africa and West Asia |
| 17 August 2027 | Lunar – penumbral | Subtle shading; maximum ~07:14 UTC | The Americas and the Pacific |
| 12 January 2028 | Lunar – partial | Very small partial eclipse; maximum ~04:13 UTC | The Americas and West Africa; Europe only low in the west before dawn |
| 26 January 2028 | Solar – annular | Annularity up to 10 min 27 s | Ecuador, Peru, northern Brazil, French Guiana, then Madeira, southern Portugal, southern Spain (Huelva, Seville, Málaga) and northern Morocco before sunset |
| 6 July 2028 | Lunar – partial | Partial eclipse, umbral magnitude 0.39; maximum ~18:20 UTC | Asia, Australia and Africa; Europe at moonrise |
| 22 July 2028 | Solar – total | Totality up to 5 min 10 s | Australia (Kimberley, Northern Territory, New South Wales, Sydney) and New Zealand (Queenstown, Dunedin) |
| 31 December 2028 | Lunar – total | “Blood moon” with about 71 minutes of totality; maximum ~16:52 UTC | Asia and Australia; Europe in the evening, eastern Africa |
2026 eclipses (archive)
| Date | Type | What it means | Visibility (Europe) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 February 2026 | Solar eclipse – annular | A “ring of fire” because the Moon appears smaller than the solar disk. | Mainly visible from Antarctica; practically not visible from Europe. |
| 3 March 2026 | Lunar eclipse – total | A classic “blood moon” appearance. | Not visible from Europe – the Moon was below the horizon. |
| 12 August 2026 | Solar eclipse – total | The most spectacular type: the solar disk is fully covered. | Totality crossed Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain; partial across the rest of Europe. |
| 28 August 2026 | Lunar eclipse – partial | Part of the lunar disk enters Earth’s shadow. | Best seen from the Americas; from Europe only low in the west around dawn. |
Safety: watching a solar eclipse
Never look directly at the Sun without the proper filters. For eclipse viewing, use only certified eclipse glasses or solar filters. Ordinary sunglasses do not protect your eyes.
Archive: the total solar eclipse of 12 August 2026
The total solar eclipse of 12 August 2026 has already taken place. Its path of totality crossed Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain, while the rest of Europe saw a partial eclipse. The detailed guide linked below remains as a record of the route and viewing locations.
The same rules apply to the next total eclipses in 2027 and 2028: combine cloud monitoring, flexible logistics and a spot as close as possible to the centre of the path of totality.
In practice, weather is the main enemy, so it is worth having a plan B with several possible locations.
Weather and cloud cover (Windy): for eclipses – especially if you are traveling into the path of totality – weather is critical. Check clouds and visibility shortly before the observation begins.
Looking ahead: the total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027
The next major event after 2026 is the total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027, crossing Spain, Morocco and Egypt, with the longest totality (around 6 minutes) near Luxor. Path of totality, timing and practical travel information are covered in a separate guide: Total Solar Eclipse of 2 August 2027 – Egypt, Luxor.
GUIDE
Total Solar Eclipse of 2 August 2027 – Egypt, Luxor
Total solar eclipse on 2 August 2027: path through Spain, Morocco and Egypt, about 6 minutes of totality near Luxor. When, where and how to watch safely.
FAQ: eclipses 2027–2028
When is the next solar eclipse?
The next solar eclipse is the annular (“ring of fire”) eclipse of 6 February 2027, along a path across Chile, Argentina and Uruguay and over the South Atlantic to West Africa. The next total solar eclipse is on 2 August 2027, with totality over southern Spain, Gibraltar, North Africa, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
When is the next lunar eclipse?
The next lunar eclipse is a penumbral eclipse on the night of 20/21 February 2027, with maximum around 23:13 UTC. It only causes a subtle shading of the Moon. A small partial lunar eclipse follows on 12 January 2028, and the next total lunar eclipse (“blood moon”) is on 31 December 2028.
Where can I see the total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027?
Totality crosses southern Spain (Cádiz, Málaga), Gibraltar, Ceuta, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia. The longest totality, about 6 minutes, is near Luxor in Egypt. Outside the path, most of Europe, Africa and West Asia will see a partial eclipse.
How can I watch a solar eclipse safely?
Use only certified eclipse filters. Never look at the Sun through a camera, binoculars or a telescope without the proper solar filter, because permanent eye damage is possible.
What is the difference between an annular and a total eclipse?
During an annular eclipse the Moon’s apparent diameter is too small to cover the whole Sun, so a bright ring remains. During a total eclipse the solar disk is completely covered for a short time within the path of totality.
For the full route of the 2026 total solar eclipse, the viewing locations and safety notes, see the archived guide. Total Solar Eclipse on August 12, 2026.
ECLIPSE 2026 · ARCHIVE
Total Solar Eclipse on August 12, 2026
A practical guide to the 2026 path of totality through Iceland and northern Spain, weather strategy and safe observation.
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Supermoon 2026: learn what it is, when it happens, how to observe it and which related night-sky guides are worth checking.
Sources: NASA GSFC eclipse catalogues 2001–2100 (solar, lunar); local times and maps: Timeanddate. Times are rounded to the minute.