2026 is one of the best sky-watching years of the decade — headlined by a total solar eclipse sweeping across Iceland and northern Spain on 12 August, the first total eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999. Here is the complete calendar of eclipses and meteor showers for 2026, with the dates and viewing details that matter.
For live moon phase and sky data any night, see our moon phase tracker and astronomy events page.
Eclipses in 2026
There are four eclipses in 2026 — two solar and two lunar.
| Date | Eclipse | Type | Where it's visible |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 February 2026 | Solar | Annular ("ring of fire") | Antarctica, southern Africa |
| 3 March 2026 | Lunar | Total ("blood moon") | Pacific, Americas, East Asia |
| 12 August 2026 | Solar | Total | Greenland, Iceland, Spain |
| 28 August 2026 | Lunar | Partial | Americas, Africa, Europe |
The big one: total solar eclipse, 12 August 2026
This is the event of the year. The Moon's shadow crosses the Arctic, clips Greenland and Iceland, then makes landfall over northern Spain around sunset — a dramatic low-horizon totality. Millions of people across Europe will see a deep partial eclipse even outside the path of totality.
Eclipse safety: never look at a partial or annular solar eclipse without certified eclipse glasses. Only during the brief moments of total eclipse is it safe to look with the naked eye.
Total lunar eclipse, 3 March 2026
Unlike solar eclipses, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to watch with the naked eye. The Moon passes fully into Earth's shadow and turns a coppery red — the famous "blood moon" — visible across the Pacific, the Americas and East Asia.
Meteor showers 2026
The same major showers return every year on roughly the same dates. The two best — the Perseids in August and the Geminids in December — are the highlights.
| Shower | Peak night | Meteors/hour (ZHR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quadrantids | Jan 3–4 | ~120 | Sharp, brief peak; northern hemisphere |
| Lyrids | Apr 22–23 | ~18 | One of the oldest recorded (687 BC) |
| Eta Aquariids | May 5–6 | ~50 | Debris from Halley's Comet; best in tropics |
| Delta Aquariids | Jul 28–29 | ~25 | Best in southern hemisphere |
| Perseids | Aug 12–13 | ~100 | Most popular northern shower; warm nights |
| Orionids | Oct 21–22 | ~25 | Also from Halley's Comet; fast meteors |
| Leonids | Nov 17–18 | ~15 | Famous for ~33-year storms (next ~2032) |
| Geminids | Dec 13–14 | ~150 | The most reliable, most numerous of the year |
| Ursids | Dec 22–23 | ~10 | Minor; northern hemisphere only |
Note: the Perseids peak on the same nights as the August total solar eclipse — a remarkable double feature in 2026. See full details and parent comets on our meteor showers page.
How to watch a meteor shower (no equipment needed)
- Go after midnight. Meteor rates climb as your side of Earth turns into the debris stream.
- Get away from city lights. Dark skies make a 10x difference.
- Look up, not at a phone. Let your eyes adapt to the dark for 20 minutes.
- Be patient. Even the best showers have 1–2 minute gaps between meteors.
- Check the Moon. A bright Moon washes out faint meteors — our moon phase calendar shows which peak nights are darkest.
Solstices and equinoxes 2026
The astronomical seasons turn on these four dates (Northern Hemisphere):
- Spring equinox: 20 March 2026
- Summer solstice: 21 June 2026 (longest day)
- Autumn equinox: 23 September 2026
- Winter solstice: 21 December 2026 (shortest day)
Southern Hemisphere seasons are reversed. Exact UTC times are on our seasons page.
Quick answers
When is the total solar eclipse in 2026? 12 August 2026, with totality crossing Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain — the first total solar eclipse over mainland Europe since 1999.
When is the next blood moon? 3 March 2026 — a total lunar eclipse visible from the Pacific, the Americas and East Asia.
What are the best meteor showers in 2026? The Geminids (Dec 13–14, ~150/hour) and the Perseids (Aug 12–13, ~100/hour) are the strongest and most reliable.
Do I need a telescope? No. Eclipses and meteor showers are best enjoyed with the naked eye — just use certified eclipse glasses for any solar eclipse.