Total Solar Eclipse 2026: Spain and Iceland Witness Rare Celestial Event

Millions of people across Spain and Iceland gathered to watch a total solar eclipse, marking Europe’s first such event since 1999. Authorities expected up to 6 million visitors along the eclipse path through northern Spain and the Balearic Islands, while Iceland, home to roughly 400,000 residents, anticipated welcoming as many as 80,000 travelers.

Eclipse Draws Crowds to Remote Regions

In Spain, totality arrived just before sunset, creating a dramatic sky display over areas like A Coruña and Bilbao starting around 8:28 p.m. local time. Madrid and Barcelona experienced only a partial eclipse. The event pulled so-called “astrotourists” away from Spain’s crowded coastlines toward less-visited inland towns, with hotel bookings in sparsely populated regions rising sharply beforehand. Officials hope the spending boost, expected to reach hundreds of millions of euros, will ease pressure on overtouristed hotspots.

A Tradition Rooted in Myth

Historically, sudden darkness during eclipses was viewed as an omen. In Norse mythology, an eclipse symbolized wolves catching the sun and moon goddesses, signaling the end of the world. Despite cloudy skies in parts of Reykjavík, visitors still gathered in celebration.