This summer the UK is getting one of the best solar eclipses we've had for years. Here's how to see it
The UK is set to experience a deep partial solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, with the Moon covering up to 96% of the Sun. While the path of totality misses the British Isles, the event will be widely visible across the country.
Why it matters
This rare astronomical event provides a significant public engagement opportunity for science and space observation in the UK.
The British Isles haven’t seen a deep solar eclipse since 2015, but that’s all about to change.
On 12 August 2026, up to 96% of the Sun will be covered by a new Moon. Then a few hours later, the Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak in moonless skies.
It could be one of the decade’s most rewarding observing days – if there’s clear weather.
The event is, of course, actually a total solar eclipse , but only for those who travel.
The path of totality crosses eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, passing just southwest of the British Isles on its way.
While the UK misses totality by a few hundred miles, viewers get a close view, with the greatest partial eclipse in the southwest, where more of the Sun is covered.
Coverage decreases slightly towards the northeastern UK, but not by much.
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