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Total Solar Eclipse in Iceland

August 12, 2026Totality 17:43–17:50Up to 2m 13s darkFirst since 1954Westfjords → Reykjanes
← longer totalityedge of totalitypartial eclipse onlyLátrabjarg · 2m 13sHellissandur & Rif · 2m 07sBlue Lagoon · 1m 36sÍsafjörður · 1m 31sStykkishólmur · 1m 23sReykjavík · 1m 00s
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Total Solar Eclipse in Iceland

August 12, 2026Totality 17:43–17:50Up to 2m 13s darkFirst since 1954Westfjords → Reykjanes

About

On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse crosses west Iceland — the Westfjords, Snæfellsnes, Reykjavík and Reykjanes. Totality sweeps the path between 17:43 and 17:50 local time; Reykjavík goes dark for 1 minute at 17:48. It is Iceland's first total eclipse since 1954 — and the last until 2196.

The whole country sees at least a deep partial eclipse from 16:47 to 18:47 — but totality is a different event entirely: the sky goes dark, the corona appears, and for a minute or two the day simply stops. Only the western path gets that.

One practical warning the times don't show: the Sun sits only 24–29° above the west-southwest horizon during totality. A hill, a building, even a treeline can hide the whole show. Pick a spot with an open western horizon — ideally facing the sea.

Times & places

Totality by location — ranked by how long the sky stays dark
LocationRegionTotality lastsGoes dark atSun height
Látrabjarg cliffsWestfjords2m 13s≈17:4428°
Hellissandur & RifSnæfellsnes2m 07s≈17:4626°
Svödufoss waterfallSnæfellsnes2m 06s≈17:4626°
ÓlafsvíkSnæfellsnes2m 05s≈17:4626°
Grundarfjörður (Kirkjufell)Snæfellsnes1m 50s≈17:4626°
Reykjanesviti lighthouseReykjanes1m 47s≈17:4824°
Garður & SandgerðiReykjanes1m 40s≈17:4825°
Keflavík Airport areaReykjanes1m 38s≈17:4825°
Blue LagoonReykjanes1m 36s≈17:4824°
ÍsafjörðurWestfjords1m 31s≈17:4428°
Straumnes lighthouseWestfjords1m 26s≈17:4429°
StykkishólmurSnæfellsnes1m 23s≈17:4627°
Reykjavík — GróttaReykjavík1m 06s≈17:4825°
Reykjavík — downtownReykjavík1m 00s17:48:1224°

Tap anywhere — will you see totality?

The same live map that powers mapoficeland.is/map, in eclipse mode: the shaded band is totality, the dashed line is its eastern edge. Tap any point in Iceland to see how long the sky goes dark there and at what time — or tap a marked spot for the exact published numbers.

The day, minute by minute (Reykjavík)

Contact times for downtown Reykjavík
TimeWhat happensDetails
16:47Partial eclipse beginsThe Moon takes its first bite of the Sun, low in the west-southwest.
17:48:12Totality beginsThe sky goes dark, the corona appears. Glasses OFF — only during totality.
17:49:12Totality endsThe diamond ring flashes. Glasses back ON immediately.
18:47Partial eclipse endsThe Moon clears the Sun completely.

Where to watch

Snæfellsnes — the sweet spot

Two-plus minutes of totality, a paved 2.5–3 hour drive from Reykjavík, and scenery that was already worth the trip: Kirkjufellsfoss, Svödufoss under Snæfellsjökull, and the cliffs at Arnarstapi and Hellnar with open western horizons. Hellissandur (2m 07s) and Ólafsvík (2m 05s) are the numbers to beat. On the way out you pass campsites and fuel stops worth marking the day before.

Westfjords — the longest darkness

Látrabjarg, Europe's great bird cliff, gets 2m 13s — the longest totality in Iceland. The catch is the drive: allow a full day each way and check whether your route is open before committing. Ísafjörður (1m 31s) is the town option.

Reykjavík — totality without the drive

Downtown gets a genuine 1 minute of totality at 17:48. Walk to Grótta lighthouse at the western tip and you gain six seconds plus an unobstructed sea horizon. If the forecast is clear over the capital, staying put is a perfectly good plan.

Reykjanes — under-rated and close

Garður and Sandgerði (1m 40s), the Blue Lagoon (1m 36s — totality from the water), and Reykjanesviti lighthouse (1m 47s) all beat downtown Reykjavík, 45 minutes away. Flying out that evening? Keflavík airport itself gets 1m 38s.

Everywhere else — partial only

Akureyri, the South Coast, and the East see a deep partial eclipse — dramatic, but the sky never goes dark and the corona never appears. If you are staying east, August 12 is the day to drive west early.

The honest part: clouds

West Iceland in August averages roughly a 25% chance of clear skies. That is the real risk — not the times, which are certain to the second. The best insurance is mobility: the path spans the entire western coast, and cloud often clears on one side of a peninsula while it piles up on the other. Check the Icelandic Met Office cloud forecast the night before, start early, and be willing to move on the morning itself.

Eye safety

Looking at a partially eclipsed Sun without certified protection causes permanent retinal damage. It does not hurt while it happens.

  • Use ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses for the entire partial phase — before and after totality. Sunglasses, smoked glass, and camera filters are not protection.
  • Bare eyes are safe only during totality — the minute or two when the Sun is fully covered and the corona is visible.
  • The moment the first sliver of Sun returns (the diamond ring), glasses go back on.
  • Phones and cameras need a solar filter over the lens during partial phases, or the sensor burns.
  • Children need supervision — glasses stay on.

Cars & campers

−15%exclusive discountFree cancellationKEF airport pickup 24/74.8
Dacia Duster 4x4
SUV

Dacia Duster 4x4

Cheapest real 4WD in the fleet — gravel, the Westfjords and easy summer F-roads without truck prices.

TransmissionManual
FuelPetrol/diesel
Seats5
Drive4WD
From
5,355 kr6,300 kr/day
Reserve −15%
VW Caravelle
9-seater

VW Caravelle

Whole family or friend group in one car — gear in the back, room to stretch.

TransmissionAutomatic
FuelDiesel
Seats9
Drive2WD
From
12,750 kr15,000 kr/day
Reserve −15%
Key Camper Wild Duo
Camper

Key Camper Wild Duo

Sleep right by the trailhead, wake up at the falls — F-road ready from mid-June.

TransmissionManual
FuelPetrol
Sleeps2
Drive4WD
From
5,304 kr6,240 kr/day
Reserve −15%

Tours near the eclipse path

Free cancellationSmall groups
Glacier & Golden Circle
Adventure

Glacier & Golden Circle

Snowmobile across a glacier, then hit the Golden Circle classics.

Duration10 hours
PickupReykjavík
ActivitySnowmobile
VehicleSuper Jeep
From
49.990 kr
View tour →

Daily conditions for your trip

Roads, weather, and aurora for your exact travel dates — one short email each morning, nothing else. Unsubscribe any time.

Frequently
asked
questions

When exactly is the 2026 solar eclipse in Iceland?
Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The partial phase runs roughly 16:47–18:47 local time; totality sweeps west Iceland between about 17:43 (Westfjords) and 17:50 (Reykjanes). In downtown Reykjavík, totality lasts 1 minute starting at 17:48:12.
Where in Iceland can I see totality?
Only the west: the Westfjords, Snæfellsnes peninsula, the greater Reykjavík area, and the Reykjanes peninsula. Látrabjarg has the longest totality on the mainland at 2m 13s. Everywhere east of the path — Akureyri, the South Coast, the East — gets a deep partial eclipse only.
Is Reykjavík good enough, or should I drive west?
Reykjavík is inside the path and gets a full minute of totality — a real total eclipse. Driving to Snæfellsnes roughly doubles that to about 2 minutes. If the sky is clear where you are, a guaranteed 1 minute beats a traffic gamble for 2.
What time should I be in position?
Be parked with a clear view to the west-southwest by 16:30. The partial phase starts around 16:47 and totality arrives about an hour later. Roads to Snæfellsnes and the Westfjords will be at their busiest that afternoon.
How high will the Sun be? Can buildings block it?
Low — only 24–29° above the west-southwest horizon during totality. That is the biggest practical gotcha: hills, buildings, even a tall treeline can hide it. Pick a spot with an open western horizon, ideally facing the sea.
Do I need eclipse glasses?
Yes — certified ISO 12312-2 solar viewers for the entire partial phase, before and after totality. Only during the brief totality itself (when the Sun is fully covered) is it safe to look with bare eyes. Sunglasses are never enough.
What if it is cloudy?
A real risk in Iceland — August averages roughly 25% clear skies in the west. The advantage of a car: the path of totality spans the whole western coast, so you can chase the forecast on the morning of August 12. Check the cloud forecast the night before and be ready to move.
When was the last total eclipse in Iceland — and the next?
The last one visible from Iceland was June 30, 1954. After August 12, 2026, the next total solar eclipse over Iceland is in 2196 — this is genuinely a once-in-a-lifetime event here.
Will flights and hotels be busy?
Yes. August is already peak season, and the eclipse adds tens of thousands of visitors. Accommodation in the west is largely booked out; day-tripping from Reykjavík or basing east of the path and driving in are the realistic late options.
Can I photograph it with my phone?
The partial phase will fry a bare phone sensor pointed at the Sun — use a solar filter over the lens. During totality itself, no filter is needed; a wide shot of the darkened landscape and corona is the shot phones actually do well.

Keep planning

Data & sources

Everything on this page comes from the sources below. Live feeds refresh automatically.

Spotted an error, or have something to add? Help us keep this page accurate.