- Published
- 9 August 2026
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- 8 min read
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| Date | Wednesday 12 August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Type in Granada | Very deep partial eclipse |
| Total in Granada? | No — partial eclipse |
| Start (IGN) | 19:42 (CEST) |
| Maximum (IGN) | 20:37 (CEST) |
| End visible | Sunset ~21:10 (CEST) |
| Magnitude (IGN) | 0.96 |
| Sun at maximum | ~6° above western horizon (IGN) |
| Direction | West (~285°) |
| Organised event | Parque de las Ciencias, from 18:30 |
| Eye protection | Mandatory for direct viewing |
Quick answer: the 12 August 2026 solar eclipse in Granada has already taken place. It was a very deep partial eclipse, not total, peaking at 20:37. This page preserves the verified data and safety guidance. The next solar eclipse visible from Granada is on 2 August 2027; local timings and viewing conditions will be added once verified.
On Wednesday 12 August 2026 Spain saw one of the year’s main astronomical events: a total solar eclipse in part of the country. Granada city lay outside the path of totality and saw a partial eclipse at sunset. This guide preserves the most common questions — time, type, visibility, where to go and how to protect your eyes — using data from Spain’s National Geographic Institute (IGN), the Parque de las Ciencias activity and the Perseids the same night.
What time is the eclipse in Granada on 12 August 2026?
If you are searching for the eclipse time in Granada, these are the official capital times from the IGN:
| Phase | Time in Granada (CEST) | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Partial eclipse begins | 19:42 | The Moon starts covering the solar disc |
| Maximum eclipse | 20:37 | Magnitude 0.96; Sun ~6° above the west |
| End visible | ~21:10 | Sunset; the eclipse does not fully end before the Sun sets |
The most searched figure — what time is the eclipse in Granada — has two useful answers: start at 19:42 and maximum at 20:37. If you can only watch one moment, choose maximum, but arrive earlier: with the Sun so low, an obstacle on the western horizon can hide it before 20:37.
The IGN places the Sun at about 6° altitude and 285° azimuth (west) at maximum. Practical translation: do not face the Alhambra or east; you need a clear line of sight to the western horizon.
Will it be a total or partial eclipse in Granada?
Partial. Granada city is not in the path of totality. You will not see the solar corona or a fully dark sky. The 12 August 2026 eclipse is total in other parts of Spain, but in Granada a strip of Sun always remains visible.
Do not confuse “total eclipse in Spain” with “total eclipse in Granada”. The correct wording: Spain is privileged for totality; Granada will see a very deep partial eclipse.
How much of the Sun will be covered from Granada?
The IGN calculates a magnitude of 0.96 at maximum for Granada city. That means the Moon will cover most of the Sun’s apparent diameter, but not the entire disc.
Do not convert 0.96 into “96% of the Sun covered”. Magnitude measures how much of the solar diameter is hidden, not surface percentage. This guide therefore does not publish an obscuration percentage.
What you may notice in the street, if the west is clear:
- clearly dimmer sunlight towards 20:30–20:40;
- sharper shadows and unusual ambient light;
- a sense of accelerated sunset, not full night;
- the Sun sinking while the Moon still partly covers it.
Granada will not go dark. The Sun remains dangerous for your eyes throughout the visible event.
Check local eclipse circumstances on the IGN website (all municipalities)
Where to watch the eclipse in Granada
The question where to watch the eclipse in Granada is not answered by “the most famous viewpoint”. It is answered by where can I see a clear west at 20:30? Buildings, hills, trees and walls can hide the final phases even under a clear sky.
Parque de las Ciencias — 12 August activity
The safest option for an official organised session. Parque de las Ciencias has scheduled an activity on 12 August 2026 from 18:30 to follow the total-eclipse broadcast.
Before travelling, check the official Parque de las Ciencias listing for possible booking rules, capacity limits or last-minute changes.
Independent viewing: how to choose a spot
We do not publish a list of “recommended” viewpoints without verifying their western horizon. If you go on your own, use these criteria:
- Clear west — no Sierra Nevada, tall buildings or trees blocking the low Sun.
- Face west — more important than climbing high with east-facing views.
- Arrive before 19:30 — time to settle without rushing.
- Safe place — not on hard shoulders, medians or traffic zones.
- Recce beforehand — visit the spot a few days earlier at the same time and watch where the Sun sets.
Our Granada viewpoints guide helps you know the city, but a tourist viewpoint does not guarantee good eclipse visibility. Judge the west, not the Alhambra postcard.
2026 solar eclipse in Andalusia: what changes in Granada
Andalusia will see similar intensities across its capitals: Jaén leads regional magnitude (~0.97) and Granada, Córdoba or Almería are around ~0.96 according to the IGN. Across the region the eclipse falls at sunset, so the advice is the same: clear western horizon.
The difference with northern Spain is not just numeric: totality occurs there in many cities. From Granada, if you want totality you must travel outside the province towards the band crossing Spain west to east. This guide focuses on anyone who will be in Granada city that day.
Eye safety: essential reading
Never look directly at the Sun without proper solar protection. In Granada the eclipse is partial throughout: even when light drops sharply, the Sun never fully disappears and remains dangerous for your retina.
These do NOT protect you:
- ordinary sunglasses, even stacked;
- smoked glass, X-rays, CDs or photographic negatives;
- homemade filters;
- looking through a phone screen as if it were a filter.
Valid options (if certified and undamaged):
- solar eclipse glasses;
- proper solar viewers;
- correctly set up indirect projection.
Check glasses for scratches, holes or tears. The IGN publishes safe-viewing advice on its solar-eclipse page.
Binoculars, telescopes and cameras
Never look at the Sun through binoculars, a telescope or a camera lens without a dedicated solar filter in front of the optics. Lenses concentrate radiation and can cause severe injury in seconds.
Eclipse glasses in front of your eyes do not make it safe to look through binoculars or a telescope. For photography, use filters made for your equipment; do not improvise.
Watching with children
- Constant supervision — do not let them remove protection while looking at the Sun.
- Explain beforehand that the eclipse is exciting but the Sun remains dangerous without proper glasses.
- Organised activities — if you lack experience, Parque de las Ciencias or indirect projection are calmer options.
- Indirect projection — a pinhole in card or a colander can project the Sun onto a white surface without looking up.
- Fit of glasses — make sure they sit properly on smaller faces.
Photographing the eclipse
From Granada the Sun will be low, which may allow compositions with rooftops or urban silhouettes — if the western horizon is open. While the photosphere is visible you need a solar filter on the lens. Do not look through an optical viewfinder without proper protection.
A tripod helps with the low Sun and changing light. Scout your composition in advance. We do not publish universal exposure values: they depend on gear, filters and real conditions.
Weather forecast for the eclipse in Granada
We will update the AEMET forecast here when it enters a reliable window (24–48 hours before the eclipse).
General cloud cover is not enough: pay special attention to the western horizon around 20:30. A clear sky overhead does not help if clouds or terrain hide the Sun at the horizon.
Last weather update: pending
Eclipse and Perseids in Granada: afternoon and night of 12 August
The night of 12–13 August also coincides with the peak of the Perseids. The IGN places maximum activity between 04:00 and 06:00 on the 13th, with intense activity possible from 23:00 on the 12th until 11:00 on the 13th.
2026 is especially favourable because the eclipse occurs at new Moon: that night there will be no bright Moon washing out the meteors as in other years.
| Event | When | How to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Solar eclipse | Afternoon of 12 August | Solar protection mandatory; clear western horizon |
| Perseids | Night of 12–13 August | Dark sky, naked eye; no telescope needed |
Wednesday 12 can be one of the most interesting astronomical days of the year in Granada, but do not mix methods: solar glasses for the eclipse; darkness and patience for the Perseids.
For more free plans that day, see our free things to do in Granada guide. To fit the eclipse into a full day, use Plan. For timed activities, check GRN URBAN’s events calendar.
Why the 12 August 2026 eclipse matters
12 August 2026 is the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Spain in more than a century. The path of totality crosses the country west to east; Granada lies in the partial zone, but the event will draw national attention and travel.
From Granada the practical keys are: understand that there will be no totality, and prepare a spot with a clear western horizon for the final phases when the Sun grazes the horizon.
And in 2027 Granada will have an even bigger eclipse
On 2 August 2027 another total solar eclipse will occur. Unlike 2026, the 2027 path of totality will affect southern Spain and reach southern sectors of Granada province.
GRN URBAN will preserve this 2026 guide as a record after 12 August. The 2027 eclipse will have its own URL so times, visibility and recommendations for different events are never mixed.
