Galicia and Catalonia gear up for August 2026 total solar eclipse

Spain's northwestern region of Galicia is being promoted as one of the premier sites to view the total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026. The eclipse will occur between roughly 19:30 and 21:30, coinciding with sunset over the Atlantic, offering clear western horizons. Tour operators such as Civitatis are offering guided excursions from Santiago de Compostela to A Coruña, including visits to the Torre de Hércules and a recommended observation point on Monte de San Pedro, priced from €55.

In neighbouring Catalonia, the regional government announced a citizen‑science project called “Solaris” that aims to recruit about 5,000 volunteers to record physiological responses—heart rate, breathing, and emotional changes—using smart watches and other wearables before, during, and after the eclipse. Data will be anonymised and sent to the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research for analysis, with preliminary results expected by late September. The initiative seeks to explore how a mass astronomical event affects the human body and collective behaviour.