Avellanosa de Muñó to host rare total solar eclipse in 2026

On August 12, 2026, the village of Avellanosa de Muñó in the Spanish province of Burgos will experience a total solar eclipse. This marks the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999 and the first in continental Spain since 1912.

Due to the timing of the event just before sunset, Madrid-based physicist Dr. María Teresa López Sánchez describes a phenomenon that will create a "double twilight," appearing like "two sunsets in a few minutes." The eclipse is expected to begin around 20:29 and last for nearly two minutes while the sun is low on the horizon.

The small village, which currently has only about ten permanent residents, is expected to see a surge in visitors, including former residents returning to reconnect with their roots. Local accommodation in nearby Llerma has been sold out since 2022, with travelers also seeking lodging in Burgos and Madrid. Following the eclipse, the area will also be an ideal location for viewing the Perseid meteor shower.