On 12 August 2026 the Sun was almost completely covered over Ciudad Real. We look back at how this historic eclipse was experienced (the first of its kind in Spain since 1912) and tell you when the next one will be.
The solar eclipse of 12 August 2026 reached its maximum in Ciudad Real at 20:34, with the Sun just 7° above the western horizon and 98.29% of its disc covered by the Moon. Hundreds of people headed to the spots with the best visibility in the city so as not to miss a phenomenon that will not be repeated for many years. This is how it was experienced at the busiest locations.
Ciudad Real's largest park filled with families and groups of friends who made the most of its wide lawns to watch the eclipse with a clear western horizon. The central lake reflected the shrinking Sun during maximum coverage, creating one of the most shared images on social media that evening.
The city's most emblematic monument was the backdrop for hundreds of photos of the covered Sun at sunset. The open area in front of the Puerta de Toledo, with the La Mancha plain behind it, offered an unobstructed view of a sunset many described as the most special they can remember.
On the outskirts of the city, this natural park brought together astronomy enthusiasts with solar telescopes and filtered binoculars. The area's low light pollution made it possible to follow the eclipse phase by phase until the last moment before sunset.
About 60 km from the city, those who travelled to the Lagunas de Ruidera saw the eclipsed Sun reflected on the turquoise water, one of the most photographed settings of the event in the whole province.
For next time: if you were left wanting to see it more clearly or didn't have the right equipment, save this page. The next eclipse visible from Ciudad Real will arrive in 2028 and certified glasses (ISO 12312-2) will once again be essential: keep yours safe or get new ones in good time.
The solar eclipse of 12 August 2026 in Ciudad Real was a partial eclipse of exceptional depth: the Moon covered 98.29% of the solar disc. It happened at sunset, with the Sun already low on the horizon, creating an unusual visual atmosphere over the city.
The Moon began to cover the Sun. The sky started to change colour.
98.29% of the Sun was covered. The daytime darkness was almost total.
The Sun set before the eclipse had completely ended. The event finished with the sunset.
The Sun was at an altitude of 7° above the horizon at maximum, so the eclipse was seen almost horizontally, silhouetted against the fields of La Mancha. An image reminiscent of the great historic eclipses. All times are in official Spanish time (CEST, UTC+2).
No. The eclipse of 12 August 2026 was the first total eclipse visible in mainland Spain since 1912, but the path of totality (the area where the Sun disappeared completely) crossed the north of the country, leaving Ciudad Real outside it.
Totality was experienced in cities in the north of the peninsula: A Coruña, Oviedo, León, Bilbao, Logroño, Zaragoza and Valencia. There the Sun disappeared for 1 to 2 minutes, the sky went dark as night and the brightest stars became visible. An experience that impressed even those who had seen one before.
Being outside the path of totality, Ciudad Real experienced an extreme partial eclipse: the sky darkened noticeably, temperatures dropped several degrees in minutes, animals behaved as if night were falling and the Sun was reduced to a very thin crescent of golden light. An awe-inspiring experience for those who witnessed it.
Many enthusiasts from Ciudad Real travelled to Zaragoza (2 h 30 min) or Valencia (2 h 15 min), both within the path of totality, to experience the total eclipse first-hand. Demand for accommodation in those areas had soared months before the event.
The eclipse of 12 August 2026 began in the Arctic, passed over Greenland and Iceland, entered Europe via the Faroe Islands and crossed the Iberian Peninsula. Spain was the only country in continental Europe where the eclipse was total with the Sun still in the sky, making it the most sought-after viewing destination in the world that day.
The eclipse of 12 August 2026 has passed, but it won't be the last astronomical event visible from Ciudad Real. These are the next dates worth marking on your calendar.
The next solar eclipse visible from Ciudad Real will be partial and will take place in 2028. No eclipse as deep as the 98.29% coverage of August 2026 is expected in the coming years, which makes this one especially memorable.
Ciudad Real is not in the path of totality of any solar eclipse expected in the short or medium term. The last total eclipse in mainland Spain before 2026 was in 1912 and, barring changes, the next one in the city will not arrive until well into the 22nd century. To see the Sun completely covered again, you will have to travel outside the province.
On 3 March 2026 a total lunar eclipse was visible from Ciudad Real, a few months before the August solar eclipse. On 28 August 2026 there will be a partial lunar eclipse, also visible from the city and with no special equipment needed.
Total eclipses are rare in any one location: centuries can pass between them. Save this page or check back later to find out in advance about the next eclipse visible from Ciudad Real, along with the best places and times to see it.
Type: Partial solar eclipse (98.29% of the Sun covered)
Start: 19:39 — The Moon began to cover the Sun
Maximum: 20:34 — Almost total darkness, Sun 7° above the horizon
End: ~21:11 — The Sun set before the eclipse ended
Best places to watch: Parque Gasset, Puerta de Toledo and other open areas with a clear western horizon
Was it total? No: Ciudad Real was outside the path of totality, which crossed northern Spain
Next eclipse in Ciudad Real: partial, in 2028
Next total eclipse in Ciudad Real: not before the 22nd century
Historic fact: it was the first total eclipse visible in mainland Spain since 1912.
The August 2026 eclipse highlighted one of Ciudad Real's great virtues that many people are unaware of: the quality of its night skies for astronomical observation.
The province of Ciudad Real, especially the Cabañeros, Sierra Madrona and Valle de Alcudia areas, has some of the darkest skies in the Iberian Peninsula. Perfect for seeing the Milky Way, meteor showers and planets with the naked eye.
Summer (July to September) offers the best conditions: clear nights, pleasant outdoor temperatures and the Milky Way at its most visible. The Perseids (mid-August) are the star event every year.
Several local companies organise astrotourism experiences with professional telescopes, specialist guides and rural accommodation in protected dark-sky areas. A unique option that combines tourism, nature and science.
