Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Total Solar Eclipse on Mallorca
Totality at 20:31, 96 seconds long, 2.4 degrees above the sea. And around 20 road sections are closed to cars that evening.
Last checked: 7 August 2026. All details on zones and closures come from the Govern de les Illes Balears and are being adjusted right up to eclipse day. The binding daily status is at eclipsisegur.caib.es, and the closures in detail are in the official document Medidas de control, restricción y cierre. An official summary in English is on illesbalears.travel.
Date
12 Aug 2026
Totality from
20:31
Duration
1 min 36 sec
Sunset
20:49
The essentials first
- 1.All of Mallorca is inside the umbra. You do not need to travel anywhere. A clear view towards west-northwest is enough, including from your own balcony.
- 2.The Tramuntana closes from 15:00, along with around 20 further road sections. Since 31 July this applies to motorcycles and mopeds too.
- 3.Leaving a zone is always allowed, only entering is restricted. On foot and by bike you can get through everywhere.
- 4.Nine official zones are free and need no registration. Once full they close, residents included.
- 5.The way back is the real problem, not the way there. After 20:33 tens of thousands of people set off at once.
- 6.Eclipse glasses to ISO 12312-2 for everything except the 96 seconds of totality. The ONCE is giving away two million pairs across Spain.
What actually happens on 12 August 2026
On Wednesday evening the moon slides in front of the sun, and it does so low enough that the eclipse plays out almost on the water. The partial phase starts in Palma at 19:38. Around 53 minutes later, at 20:31, the sun is fully covered. Totality lasts 1 minute and 36 seconds and ends at 20:33.
The sun sits just 2.4 degrees above the horizon, towards west-northwest (287 degrees). That is roughly the height of two fingers held together at arm length. So the corona does not glow in a dark zenith but in a burning evening sky right above the sea. Even experienced eclipse chasers have never seen this.
The umbra sweeps across the island at 33,000 to 55,000 km/h, ten to sixteen times faster than during a midday eclipse. It reaches Mallorca first at Cap de Formentor, crosses the Bay of Palma and leaves the island near Ses Salines. Around 150 kilometres further east it lifts off the Earth entirely. The Balearics are the last piece of land this shadow crosses.
After totality the show is not over, but it sinks: the sun sets at 20:49 still around 58 percent eclipsed, a crescent dropping into the sea. The calculated end of the partial phase at 21:22 already happens below the horizon. So if you read 21:22 somewhere as the end time, there is nothing left to see by then.
Exact times for your location
The gap between the best and the weakest point on the island is twelve seconds. Do not drive across Mallorca for the duration. A clear western horizon is worth a hundred times more.
| Location | Totality from | Duration | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sant Elm / Sa Dragonera | 20:31:09 | 1'37 | 20:51 |
| Port d’Andratx | 20:31:11 | 1'36 | 20:51 |
| Palma | 20:31:04 | 1'36 | 20:49 |
| Felanitx | 20:31:03 | 1'35 | 20:49 |
| Colònia de Sant Jordi | 20:31:19 | 1'35 | 20:48 |
| Port de Sóller | 20:30:43 | 1'34 | 20:50 |
| Manacor | 20:30:53 | 1'34 | 20:49 |
| Alcúdia | 20:30:32 | 1'29 | 20:49 |
| Cap de Formentor | 20:30:23 | 1'24 | 20:51 |
Calculated from the NASA Besselian elements for SE2026Aug12T and cross-checked against the Spanish IGN. All times CEST. The Balearic government quotes the same key figures in its official notice: partial phase from 19:38, totality at 20:31, end of the phenomenon at 20:49 coinciding with sunset.
In August roughly two million people are on the Balearic Islands at the same time
The nine official observation zones
The Balearic government has designated 26 zones for around 300,000 people across the islands, nine of them on Mallorca. Worth knowing: these are not the spots with the finest view, they are the ones where a large crowd can be handled safely. Selection criteria were visibility, access, capacity, parking and room for emergency services. No registration, no ticket, free of charge. Residents get no priority.
Platja de Palma
Palma1'38 totality
The largest zone on the island, initial capacity 75,000 people. Car access from 08:00 only with a QR accreditation, from 12:00 not at all. Free to enter on foot, by bike and by EMT bus.
Platja de Santa Ponça
Calvià1'38 totality
The special operation starts as early as 11 August. Lifeguards on duty until at least 22:00, two civil protection boats on the water.
Maioris
Llucmajor1'38 totality
Reachable only via three controlled access points. The Sa Pedrera de la Seu car park closes once full, possibly as early as the morning.
De Maioris a Tolleric
Llucmajor1'38 totality
The stretch between the two urbanisations. Tolleric itself is open only to residents, employees and hotel guests who can show proof.
Circuit de Son Matamoros
Felanitx1'37 totality
A maximum of 800 vehicles, after that the access road is closed. On site there are ambulances, portable toilets, water stalls and a security service. A 20 km/h limit applies on the access road for two to three hours.
Ronda de Porreres
Porreres1'37 totality
The town bypass, in the flat interior of the island with a wide view to the west.
Camp de futbol d’Algaida
Algaida1'37 totality
The village football ground. The nearby Puig de Randa with the Santuari de Cura is closed, and traffic is diverted here instead.
Camp de futbol de Pina
Algaida1'36 totality
The municipality’s second football ground, in the hamlet of Pina. Smaller and quieter than Algaida.
Aparcament Ma-3220
Petra1'35 totality
A car park on the Ma-3220 towards Sant Joan. The Ermita de Bonany above is closed, and the Camí de Bonany is shut from the village centre onwards.
Two extra sites released in Manacor
The Balearic government and the Manacor council have since opened two further sites that are missing from most overviews: Parc de na Molla (Son Fangos) and Camp de futbol de S’Illot. Neither belongs to the nine official zones, but both are officially coordinated.
Places where you will see nothing
At 2.4 degrees of solar altitude the horizon decides, not the reputation of the viewpoint. These five warnings come from the authorities and astronomers themselves.
Serra de Tramuntana
Not just closed but the wrong idea anyway: anyone standing east of the range has the Puig Major directly in front of the setting sun.
Castell de Capdepera
The council says so itself, in four languages: the eclipse cannot be seen from the castle. It is open only until 17:00.
Puig de Sant Salvador, Felanitx
Closed from 15:00, and the council explicitly rates the view from up there as poor.
Observatori Astronòmic de Mallorca, Costitx
Of all places, the observatory does not work: the horizon is obstructed in the decisive direction. The team is deploying its equipment to the Mirador des Grau, Port de Sóller, Formentor and Es Trenc instead.
Anywhere with buildings or hills to the west
At 2.4 degrees of solar altitude a second row of hotels, a line of pines or a low ridge is enough. Test your horizon in advance, the trick is further down this page.
The single most important rule
Around 20 road sections close from 15:00
The standard window is 15:00 to 21:00, and it can be brought forward or extended if traffic builds up. Since 31 July the closure covers all motor vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds included. Approaches into the Tramuntana have been monitored since 11 August, and checks tighten from 10:00 on eclipse day.
The reason is not bureaucracy but wildfire risk. August is the highest danger level, the eclipse falls at dusk, and water bombers cannot fly at night. Blocked mountain roads mean emergency crews can no longer get through. The government has 161 wildfire firefighters deployed, 93 of them on Mallorca.
| Municipality | Road | Section | Leads to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algaida (Randa) | Ma-5018 | km 0,3 - 5,0 | Climb to Randa and the Santuari de Cura |
| Andratx | Ma-10 | km 111,0 | Western start of the Tramuntana road |
| Andratx (Sant Elm) | Ma-1030 | ab km 3,9 (Kreisel Ma-1050) bis Sant Elm | Sant Elm, the view of Sa Dragonera, the climb to La Trapa |
| Artà | Ma-3333 | km 5,0 - 8,0 | Ermita de Betlem |
| Banyalbufar | Ma-10 + Camí des Port des Canonge | ab km 80,0 | Port des Canonge, Mirador de Ses Ànimes, Cala Banyalbufar |
| Caimari | Ma-2130 | km 7,0 - 15,0 | Climb to the Coll de sa Batalla and Lluc |
| Deià | Ma-10 + Zufahrt Cala Deià | ab km 61,2 | Cala Deià and the Mirador de Sa Foradada |
| Escorca | Ma-2141 | km 0,0 - 13,0 | Sa Calobra and the Torrent de Pareis |
| Esporles | Ma-10 | km 79,1 (Kreuzung Ma-1100) | Access to the Tramuntana from Esporles |
| Felanitx | Ma-4011 | km 0,1 - 5,0 | Puig de Sant Salvador (which the council itself calls a poor viewing spot) |
| Fornalutx | Ma-10 | km 47,5 | Access to Fornalutx and the upper Sóller valley |
| Llucmajor | Ma-6014 | km 9,0 / 9,65 / 18,4 | Badia Blava, Badia Gran and the Cap Blanc lighthouse |
| Palma | Ma-19 | Ausfahrten 6, 7A und 8, ab 08:00 Uhr | Playa de Palma, from Can Pastilla to s’Arenal |
| Petra | Camí de Bonany | ab Ortskern bis zur Ermita | Ermita de Bonany |
| Pollença | Ma-10 | km 0,6 und km 5,0 | Eastern start of the Tramuntana road |
| Pollença (Formentor) | Ma-2210 | km 2,0 - 19,2 | Mirador des Colomer, Formentor lighthouse, the whole peninsula |
| Ses Salines | Ma-6110 | km 0,0 - 9,0 | Far de ses Salines, the southernmost point of the island |
| Sóller | Ma-10 | km 52,75 | Checkpoint at the roundabout by the monument |
| Sóller | Ma-2124 | km 0,0 - 4,9 | Port de Sóller and the lighthouse |
| Valldemossa | Ma-10 | km 71,0 | Access to the Tramuntana from Valldemossa |
| Valldemossa | Ma-1131 | km 0,0 bis Port de Valldemossa | Port de Valldemossa |
Source: official table of the Govern de les Illes Balears, Medidas de control, restricción y cierre, status shown there 06.08.2026. Every row above is taken one to one from that table. Access to Es Trenc and Ses Covetes via the Ma-6040 appeared in the 16 July version and is no longer listed. While that stays unclear, do not plan around it.
Also closed, even though it is not a road closure
Castell de Bellver und Bosc de Bellver
Palma
Closed all day because of fire risk. Na Burguesa is restricted from 08:00 to 21:00.
Puig de sa Morisca, Mirador d’El Toro, Illes Malgrats
Calvià
Closed because these spots cannot be evacuated in an emergency.
Santuari de Gràcia
Llucmajor
The Camí Vell de Gràcia and the Ma-5018 approach are closed.
Puig de Sant Salvador
Felanitx
Fully closed from 15:00, hotel guests with a reservation excepted. The council itself says the view from up there is poor.
Son Net, Conques und Galilea
Puigpunyent
Residents only between 15:00 and 21:00. Son Net has a cap of 30 vehicles with prior council permission.
s’Arenal
Llucmajor
From 16:00 only emergency services, public transport, residents, owners, employees and hotel guests with a reserved parking space.
Who still gets through, and with what proof
Checkpoints do not wave people through on goodwill, they check paperwork. This list applies uniformly at every closure point.
| Who | Proof |
|---|---|
| Residents | DNI or residence certificate (certificado de residente) |
| Property owners | IBI notice, purchase contract or a utility bill in your own name |
| People working inside the zone | Employment contract, employer certificate or payslip |
| Hotel and holiday rental guests | Booking confirmation. Vehicles may only drop off and pick up, not park inside the zone |
| Restaurant guests | A reservation AND a guaranteed parking space. The reservation alone is not enough |
| Scheduled buses, taxis and VTC | No proof needed, public transport gets through |
| Chartered transport to businesses inside the zone | A reservation. Drop-off and pick-up only, no parking during the visit |
| Emergency services and scheduled patient transport | Service ID or transport order |
| Other vehicles | Decided case by case by the competent authority at the checkpoint |
Two pieces of good news
Leaving a restricted zone is always allowed. And on foot or by bike you get in everywhere, Playa de Palma included.
Two common misunderstandings
Goods deliveries are excluded during the closure window. And a private party does not justify access, however long it has been planned.
Three cases almost nobody mentions
- A medical appointment inside a closed zone: show the appointment or admission confirmation at the checkpoint, whether you are the patient or a visitor. That is enough, no accreditation needed.
- An urgent case without accreditation: access is possible if you can substantiate the urgency at the checkpoint. The officers on site make the call.
- Tradespeople, installers, delivery services: only if they are working for a business inside the zone and are registered there as its staff. Private individuals cannot use this route. The government advises postponing any work scheduled for that day.
What the individual councils have decided
On top of the government rules, each municipality has issued its own. Most councils have set up nothing at all. These eight have.
Palma
The largest operation on the island. Ma-19 exits 6, 7A and 8 close from 08:00, and from 12:00 no unauthorised car reaches Playa de Palma. On foot, by bike or by EMT bus nobody needs accreditation, it only comes into play if you drive your own car. Important: you do not apply for the QR accreditation yourself, the business does. It registers with the city council, municipal civil protection validates it (not instantly), and the business then gets a link to register staff and, if it has its own parking spaces, customers too. Staff do not need the business to have parking, customers do. Several people may travel in the car as long as the registered person is on board, and there is a limit of two entries. Registration runs from 27 July to 12 August, enquiries at the Oficina del Distrito on 971 22 58 92. Banned on the beach: glass bottles, speakers, tents, fires and fireworks. Parasols are fine. Lifeguards are on duty until 21:30.
Calvià
Platja de Santa Ponça is an official zone and the operation starts as early as 11 August. Puig de sa Morisca, the Mirador d El Toro and the viewpoints over the Illes Malgrats are closed. The council explicitly recommends watching from home or from your own neighbourhood.
Llucmajor
Six zones with access control. s Arenal from 16:00, the Santuari de Gràcia fully closed, Cala Blava and Bellavista controlled via the Camí d Enderrocat. Maioris, Puig de Ros, Sa Torre and the Badia urbanisations are reachable only through three access points. Bahía Azul and Bahía Grande are reserved for emergency services.
Felanitx
The Circuit de Son Matamoros takes a maximum of 800 vehicles and then closes. A 20 km/h limit applies on the access road for two to three hours. Smoking is banned across the whole site. Puig de Sant Salvador is fully closed from 15:00, and the council rates it a poor viewing spot anyway.
Sóller
Checkpoints at the roundabout by the monument, at the Ma-10 junction with the Ma-11 and near Fornalutx. The road to the port (Ma-2124) is restricted along its full length. Hotel and restaurant vehicles may only drop off and pick up, not park. Harbour checks are stepped up.
Valldemossa
Restrictions from 15:00 to 21:00 on the affected local and rural roads, and explicitly brought forward once the car parks fill up. The Ma-1131 to Port de Valldemossa is closed.
Puigpunyent
The only municipality with genuine pre-registration: Son Net is capped at 30 vehicles and each needs prior permission from the council. Conques and Galilea are open to residents only between 15:00 and 21:00.
Santa Margalida
Can Picafort is turning the eclipse into a party: an eclipse event on Plaça Cervantes from 17:30 as part of the Festes de la Mare de Déu d Agost, with a DJ, free entry and free eclipse glasses. The only municipality known to be handing out glasses.
How 12 August unfolds
from 08:00
Playa de Palma is sealed off
Exits 6, 7A and 8 of the Ma-19 close. Until 12:00 only residents, accredited staff and hotel guests with a QR code get through, after that no cars at all. Access on foot, by bike and by EMT bus stays open.
from 10:00
Tighter traffic control island-wide
Guardia Civil and traffic police take up the checkpoints. Approaches into the Tramuntana have been monitored since 11 August.
from 15:00
Serra de Tramuntana and natural areas close
The Ma-10 and around 20 further sections shut to all motor vehicles, motorcycles included. Earlier if traffic builds up. Be in position before this.
around 18:00
Latest sensible time to set off
The astronomer at the Mallorca observatory advises leaving by around 14:00, because traffic starts backing up from 15:00 to 16:00. Anyone still driving at 18:00 will be looking for a spot in the dark.
19:38
The partial phase begins
The moon starts to cover the sun. From now on: glasses on, and keep them on until the last ray is gone.
around 20:25
The light turns
Colours go metallic, the temperature drops noticeably, birds fall silent. The onrushing umbra becomes visible on the western horizon.
20:31
Totality, glasses may come off
The sun is fully covered, the corona stands 2.4 degrees above the sea. Venus and bright stars appear. This is the only moment you may look unprotected.
20:33
Totality ends, glasses straight back on
After 96 seconds the first ray of sunlight flashes back. From that instant looking without a filter is dangerous again.
from 20:35
The most critical moment of the day
Everyone wants to leave at the same time. The DGT advises waiting a while. The Perseids peak the very same night, which is a good reason to take your time.
20:49
Sunset with a bite taken out of the sun
The sun sets still roughly 58 percent eclipsed, a crescent sinking into the sea. The calculated end at 21:22 happens below the horizon.
Eclipse glasses: 30 seconds is enough for permanent damage
That is not marketing copy, it is how the Balearic public health directorate puts it. Throughout the entire partial phase, meaning before 20:31 and after 20:33, you must never look at the sun unprotected. The islands have 160 extra medical staff on standby, ophthalmology among them.
✓ Safe
- Eclipse glasses printed with ISO 12312-2
- Welding glass shade 14
- Telescope or binoculars with a certified solar filter in front
- Indirect viewing: pinhole projection onto paper
✗ Not enough
- Any ordinary sunglasses, expensive ones included
- X-ray film, soot, CDs, emergency blankets
- Several layers of foil stacked together
- A phone or camera screen without a filter over the lens
Where you can still get a pair at short notice
The Spanish government and the ONCE are handing out two million free pairs through ONCE outlets, participating pharmacies, health centres, opticians and some supermarkets. At the same time the consumer protection authority is reviewing 75 models over blindness risk and has already seized stock from five non-compliant brands. So buy at a pharmacy or an optician rather than a market stall, and check the printed standard.
Only between 20:31 and 20:33 may the glasses come off. The moment the first ray returns, put them back on. And yes: the partly eclipsed sun setting at 20:49 still needs them.
The west coast has the best horizon. The classic Tramuntana viewpoints, however, are closed on 12 August
Weather and the horizon test
The AEMET forecast issued on 7 August shows clear skies for Palma, Andratx, Sóller, Alcúdia, Manacor, Felanitx and Llucmajor, with zero percent chance of rain and 25 to 35 degrees. Two of the three major weather models put the probability of a clear view above 90 percent. Climatologically the Balearics sit at roughly 75 to 85 percent. AEMET has been issuing a daily special eclipse forecast since 7 August.
Two risks remain. Calima, Saharan dust, can turn the sky milky, and with the sun this low its light travels through an unusually long column of air. And at 2.4 degrees a cloud sitting 200 kilometres away over open sea can block your line of sight. The cloud above your head says little that evening. The cloud out over the water towards west-northwest says everything.
The trick for testing your spot in advance
The reference time for Mallorca is 20:33. Stand at your planned spot on the days before and check whether you can still see the sun then. Because the sun sets slightly earlier each day, subtract one minute per day of lead time:
- 8 August: check at 20:37
- 9 August: check at 20:36
- 10 August: check at 20:35
- 11 August: check at 20:34
If you can see the sun then, you will see totality on 12 August. If you prefer digital tools, the Horitzó Eclipsi 2026 app covers this, and the IGN terrain viewer factors mountains and buildings into the line of sight.
Getting there, and above all getting away again
Public transport
The government is unusually candid: some zones get extra services, in others public transport will not be sufficient, above all for the return. There is no dedicated shuttle programme to the observation zones. The EMT is reinforcing services to Playa de Palma. Buses, taxis and VTC may pass every checkpoint.
Palma airport
Aena is running the regular flight schedule, with no cancellations and no runway closure. The roads are the problem: major operators are moving transfers two to three hours earlier, and the advice is to be at the airport up to five hours before departure. The Ma-19 is affected, with diversions via exits 4 and 10.
The way back is the critical moment
The Spanish traffic authority DGT expects 400,000 to 1.5 million extra journeys nationwide and a 30 to 100 percent rise in traffic towards the path of totality. Its central advice: stay at your spot for a while after totality instead of setting off at 20:34 along with everyone else. A good excuse to linger: the Perseids peak the very same night. Also plan for a congested mobile network. Telefónica has reconfigured 2,756 sites but has not built new antennas.
If you watch the eclipse from a boat
Around 10,000 boats are expected on the water simultaneously, roughly 40 percent of the Balearic fleet. A Ports IB and SOCIB study puts the coastline capacity at about 12,000. It will be crowded.
- Distance from shore: at least three nautical miles, five for large ships and cruise vessels, so they do not block the view from land.
- Anchoring: not in fairways, harbour manoeuvring areas or entrances, and keep clear of Posidonia meadows.
- Night navigation: not permitted without the corresponding certificate. It is dark after 20:49.
- Boat trips: legal operators have a registered embarkation point, a charter declaration, a visible registration number in every listing and a NIF on the invoice. If that is missing, the trip is illegal.
- Distress: VHF channel 16 or Salvamento Marítimo on 900 20 22 02.
Emergency numbers and health services that evening
General emergencies
112
Ambulance, SAMU
061
Fire and wildfire
085
Salvamento Marítimo
900 20 22 02
The health service is deploying 160 extra staff, with emergency departments, intensive care, anaesthesia, traumatology and explicitly ophthalmology reinforced. An eye specialist will be reachable throughout 12 August and the days after. Reinforced health centres on Mallorca include Andratx, Santa Ponsa, Sóller, Esporles and Pollença. Hospitals are rescheduling elective surgery: Son Llàtzer stops operating from 13:30, Son Espases from 15:00. If you have a non-urgent appointment that day, check it in advance.
Why fire, of all things, is the dominant concern
August is peak wildfire season on the Balearics and open fires in wooded areas are already banned. What makes this evening special is that the eclipse falls at dusk, and water bombers cannot fly after that. By early August the island had already recorded 37 fires burning 9.12 hectares, against 18 fires and 2 hectares in the same period last year. So: no cigarette ends, no barbecues, no flares, no fireworks. At Playa de Palma fires, barbecues and pyrotechnics are explicitly banned, as are glass bottles, tents and speakers.
Frequently asked questions about the eclipse on Mallorca
Where am I allowed to watch the solar eclipse on Mallorca?
Nine official observation zones set up by the Balearic government are open to everyone: Platja de Palma, Platja de Santa Ponça in Calvià, Maioris and the stretch to Tolleric in Llucmajor, the Circuit de Son Matamoros in Felanitx, the Ronda de Porreres, the football grounds of Algaida and Pina, and the car park on the Ma-3220 near Petra. Manacor has additionally opened the Parc de na Molla and the S Illot football ground. No registration, no ticket, free of charge. Once a zone is full it closes for everyone, residents included. Beyond that, the whole of Mallorca lies inside the path of totality, so any spot outside the closed areas with a clear western horizon works too, including your own balcony.
Which roads are closed on 12 August 2026?
Around 20 road sections, as a rule from 15:00 to 21:00 and earlier if traffic builds up. This affects the Ma-10 along its entire length between Andratx and Pollença, the approaches to Sant Elm, Cala Deià, Sa Calobra, Port de Sóller and Port de Valldemossa, the Ma-2210 to Cap de Formentor, the Ma-5018 to Randa, the Ma-4011 to Puig de Sant Salvador, the Ma-6110 to the Ses Salines lighthouse, the Ma-6014 near Llucmajor, and exits 6, 7A and 8 of the Ma-19 towards Playa de Palma from 08:00. Since 31 July the closures apply to all motor vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds included.
Can I still get through as a resident or hotel guest?
Yes, with proof. Checkpoints let through residents (DNI, NIE or empadronamiento), property owners (IBI notice, purchase contract or a utility bill in your own name), people working inside the zone (contract, employer certificate or payslip), hotel and holiday rental guests (booking confirmation), and restaurant guests who can show a reservation plus a guaranteed parking space. Scheduled buses, taxis, VTC and emergency services pass freely. Goods deliveries are excluded during the closure window, and a private party does not justify access. Two things matter: leaving a restricted zone is always allowed, only entering is limited, and you can always get in on foot or by bike.
What are the exact times of the eclipse on Mallorca on 12 August 2026?
In Palma the partial phase starts at 19:38. Totality begins at 20:31 and lasts 1 minute 36 seconds, until 20:33. After that the sun stays partly eclipsed and sets at 20:49 with roughly 58 percent of its disc still covered. The calculated end of the partial phase at 21:22 happens below the horizon and cannot be seen. Times vary by a few seconds across the island: totality starts at 20:30:23 at Cap de Formentor and at 20:31:09 near Sant Elm.
Is the eclipse visible from the whole island?
Yes. All of Mallorca lies inside the umbra with a comfortable margin: Cap de Formentor in the north has about 27 kilometres to spare from the northern limit, Cap de ses Salines in the south about 48. Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera are inside the path too, although Formentera only just. What decides your experience is not the location but an unobstructed view towards west-northwest, because the sun sits only 2.4 degrees above the horizon during totality. A hill, a hotel block or a line of trees to the west is enough to hide everything.
How much does the duration vary across Mallorca?
Barely at all. Totality lasts longest in the far southwest around Sant Elm and Sa Dragonera at 1 minute 37 seconds, and shortest at Cap de Formentor at 1 minute 24 seconds. That is a spread of roughly twelve seconds across the entire island. So do not drive across Mallorca chasing a handful of seconds. A clear western horizon, an approach you can actually complete and a return trip without gridlock are worth a hundred times more.
Do I need eclipse glasses, and where can I still get a pair?
Yes. Throughout the partial phase, meaning before 20:31 and after 20:33, certified eclipse glasses to ISO 12312-2 are mandatory. The Spanish government and the ONCE are distributing two million free pairs through ONCE outlets, participating pharmacies and health centres. At the same time the consumer protection authority has placed 75 models under review over blindness risk and has already seized stock from five non-compliant brands. Buy from a pharmacy, an optician or a planetarium rather than a market stall, and check the printed standard. Ordinary sunglasses, X-ray film, CDs and emergency blankets do not protect you.
What will the weather be like on 12 August 2026?
The AEMET forecast issued on 7 August shows clear skies and zero percent chance of rain for Palma and most of the island, at 25 to 35 degrees. Climatologically the Balearics sit at roughly 75 to 85 percent probability of a clear view. Two risks remain: calima, meaning Saharan dust, can turn the sky milky, and at a solar altitude of 2.4 degrees a cloud 200 kilometres away can still block your line of sight. What matters is not the cloud above you but the cloud out over the sea towards west-northwest. AEMET has been publishing a daily special eclipse forecast since 7 August.
How do I get there, and how do I get back?
The authorities are unusually blunt about this: public transport will not be sufficient, above all for the return trip. There is no dedicated shuttle programme to the observation zones, and the EMT is only reinforcing services to Playa de Palma. The critical moment is not the journey out but the departure: after 20:33 tens of thousands of people want to leave at once. The Spanish traffic authority DGT explicitly advises staying put for a while after totality. If you are flying, plan to be at the airport up to five hours before departure on 12 August, and note that major tour operators are moving transfers two to three hours earlier.
What makes this eclipse so unusual?
Totality happens practically on the horizon. The sun sits just 2.4 degrees up, so the corona glows over the sea in a deep red evening sky. The umbra races across the island at 33,000 to 55,000 km/h, ten to sixteen times faster than during a midday eclipse, and lifts off the Earth roughly 150 kilometres east of Mallorca. The Balearics are the last piece of land this shadow crosses. The previous total solar eclipse over the Balearics was on 30 August 1905, and back then Menorca and northern Mallorca lay outside the umbra. 2026 is the first time the entire archipelago is inside it. The next one is not until 2180.
Sources
The zones, closures, times and exceptions on this page come from the official publications of the Govern de les Illes Balears. They are being adjusted right up to eclipse day, which is why the page carries a check date at the top.
- Govern de les Illes Balears: Medidas de control, restricción y cierre (road table, exceptions and special operations, status 06.08.2026)
- eclipsisegur.caib.es (portal with the current daily status)
- illesbalears.travel: Solar eclipse in the Balearic Islands (official summary in English)
- Instituto Geográfico Nacional: Eclipse total de Sol (contact times and eclipse path)
- IGN terrain viewer and Horitzó Eclipsi 2026 (line of sight check for your location)
- AEMET (weather forecast and special bulletin)
Planning your stay?
Local services for your time on Mallorca
The Mallorca Plus provider directory lists vetted local businesses, from holiday rentals to transfers for the trip to your viewing spot.
Browse the directoryThinking about moving to Mallorca for good? Everything about settling in from the NIE number to health insurance.