Wednesday 12 August 2026
What time is the solar eclipse where you are?
On the evening of Wednesday 12 August 2026 the Moon covers between 88.2% and 97.0% of the Sun across the UK and Ireland, low in the northwest sky. It begins at 6:01pm and is over by 8:10pm.
Every place sees it differently, and the difference is worth knowing: coverage runs eight points deeper in Killarney than in Lerwick, and contact times shift by around twenty minutes end to end.
First contact
6:01pm
Earliest first contact anywhere in these islands. Yours is within about a quarter of an hour of it.
Common questions
What time is the solar eclipse on 12 August 2026 in the UK?
It starts at 6:01pm and ends at 8:10pm British Summer Time, though the exact minute depends on where you are - contact times shift by around twenty minutes between the southwest and the northeast.
How much of the Sun will be covered?
Between 88.2% and 97.0%, depending on where you stand. The eclipse is deepest in the southwest - Killarney sees 97.0% - and shallowest in the northeast, where Lerwick sees 88.2%.
Is the 2026 eclipse total in the UK?
No. The UK and Ireland see a deep partial eclipse only. The path of totality crosses Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain - from here the Sun never disappears completely, which is why eye protection is needed for the entire event.
Will it go dark during the eclipse?
Not dark, but noticeably dimmer and strangely flat, a bit like heavy cloud passing over on a clear evening. With the Sun low in the northwest and most of it covered, the light goes cold and shadows sharpen. It is worth watching for that even if the Sun itself is behind cloud.
When is the next solar eclipse after this one?
The total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027, visible from southern Spain, Gibraltar and North Africa, with over six minutes of totality near Luxor. Before that, a partial lunar eclipse on 28 August 2026 is visible from the UK and Ireland.
Do I need eclipse glasses?
Yes, throughout, with no exceptions. Because the eclipse is partial from the UK and Ireland, part of the Sun’s surface is exposed the whole time. Use glasses certified to ISO 12312-2, or project the Sun through a pinhole onto card instead.