Portugal's 2026 Total Solar Eclipse and 13 Full Moons Light Up the Sky

The night sky in 2026 will offer a rare mix of lunar and solar events. Portugal is set to witness a total solar eclipse on August 12, with full darkness only visible in one remote location. Meanwhile, the year will also feature 13 full moons, including three Supermoons and a Blue Moon.

The astronomical calendar for 2026 begins with the 'Wolf Moon' on January 3rd, the first of three Supermoons that year. The other two will appear on November 24th and December 24th. Each month will bring its own named full moon, from the 'Snow Moon' in February to the 'Cold Moon' in December. A Blue Moon is also scheduled for May 31st, marking the second full moon in that month.

On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will sweep across parts of the Northern Hemisphere. In Portugal, the only place to experience totality will be Montesinho Natural Park in Bragança. Elsewhere, a partial eclipse will be visible across northern and western Europe, including Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Germany, where up to 92% of the Sun will be obscured. The event will also reach parts of the Arctic Ocean, northern Africa, and North America, with varying durations depending on location. The maximum totality in the path of the eclipse will last 2 minutes and 18 seconds.

Interactive maps will provide precise timings for different regions, as the partial phases may stretch over several hours. Observers outside the path of totality will still see a significant dimming of daylight, though full darkness will only occur in the narrow band crossing Montesinho.

The 2026 solar eclipse will draw attention to Portugal's far northeast, where totality will be brief but striking. Across Europe and beyond, millions will witness a deep partial eclipse, weather permitting. With 13 full moons and three Supermoons, the year will also give skywatchers plenty of reasons to look up.