If you have always wanted to witness a total solar eclipse, the next few years will offer a rare chance to do so. Between 2026 and 2028, three total solar eclipses will occur within two years, though the first two are already creating debate among aspiring eclipse chasers.
On Aug. 12, 2026, and Aug. 2, 2027, the moon’s shadow will move across some of the most accessible and visually stunning locations on Earth. Both eclipses will provide unforgettable views of the sun’s corona while turning daytime into an eerie twilight, but each event will deliver a very different experience.
Since eclipse chasing can be costly, many people may only be able to choose one. So which eclipse should you pick?
Would you really want to skip the next eclipse? By the time Aug. 12, 2026 arrives, it will have been nearly two and a half years since the previous total solar eclipse visible from North America. The path of totality will begin in Siberia, pass through eastern Greenland and western Iceland, then continue across northern Spain before ending over the Mediterranean.
For people in Europe, this eclipse is an obvious choice. It will be the first total solar eclipse over mainland Europe since 1999. The path of totality includes Reykjavik in Iceland and Spanish cities such as Bilbao, Zaragoza, León, Burgos and Valladolid. It will also be within driving distance of French cities including Toulouse, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Marseille and Lyon, as well as Paris, Geneva in Switzerland and Turin in Italy. In addition, Spain already welcomes around 11 million visitors every August, meaning many travelers will already be there.
Iceland will offer dramatic scenery featuring volcanoes, glaciers and rugged coastlines, while Spain will provide a relatively low sun in the sky, creating the unusual sight of a totally eclipsed sun appearing over land shortly before sunset. This effect will be strongest in the Balearic Islands.
However, there are disadvantages as well. Heavy congestion is expected in Iceland and Spain, while the maximum duration of totality will only exceed two minutes slightly, making it shorter than many other eclipses. Clear skies are also not guaranteed. In Spain, wildfire smoke could reduce visibility, similar to what occurred during summer 2025.
On Aug. 2, 2027, the so-called “eclipse of the century” will occur, earning its nickname because of its unusually long duration of totality. In Luxor, Egypt, the moon will completely block the sun for 6 minutes and 22 seconds, which is more than three times longer than the maximum duration in 2026. It will also become the longest inland totality since July 11, 1991, and the longest until Aug. 3, 2114.
The path of totality will begin in Spain — this time across the southern part of the country — before crossing North Africa and reaching the Middle East. While Spain remains an attractive European option, many eclipse chasers are focusing on Tunisia and Egypt because of their long periods of totality and high chances of clear weather. Luxor has especially become a major destination. Ancient landmarks such as Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings provide a dramatic setting for the eclipse. The possibility of clouds is considered lower than the risk of dust storms.
Still, there are drawbacks. Traveling to North Africa or the Middle East may involve more planning, longer travel times and greater expense. Organized tours to Luxor have become extremely expensive and are now nearly impossible to secure. There is also the challenge of intense summer temperatures, with daytime highs in Luxor averaging 105°F (41°C).
Several major differences may help eclipse chasers decide between the 2026 and 2027 eclipses:
Among inexperienced eclipse chasers, one number often dominates discussions about total solar eclipses: duration. Two minutes, four minutes or six minutes are frequently treated like scores, as though a longer eclipse automatically means a better one. That is not necessarily true. The real wonder is not how long totality lasts, but the fact that it happens at all. By pure coincidence, the sun and moon appear almost exactly the same size in Earth’s sky. When they align perfectly, daytime briefly turns into night. Since every total solar eclipse is relatively short, worrying too much about a few extra seconds can seem unnecessary.
In many cases, shorter eclipses can feel even more dramatic because they happen suddenly and intensely. Anyone looking for drama will find it during totality, and most people will never remember the exact number of seconds it lasted. Some experienced eclipse chasers even travel to the edge of the path of totality just to witness a one-second eclipse.
That said, the 2027 eclipse may be an exception because of its extraordinary length. Being the longest totality until 2114 is undeniably exciting. Viewers will have more time to experience the darkening sky, cooler temperatures and the details of the solar corona. Anyone traveling to Luxor in 2027 will likely have an unforgettable experience. At the same time, viewers watching the eclipsed sun near sunset on a beach in the Balearic Islands during 2026 may experience just as much drama, if not more.
Recent history also offers a warning. Many eclipse chasers skipped the relatively short and potentially cloudy total solar eclipse over South America in 2019 in favor of a slightly longer eclipse in 2020. However, the 2020 event was disrupted by both COVID-19 and severe rainstorms.
The lesson is simple: if you have the opportunity, it is usually best to attend the next total solar eclipse regardless of duration or long-range weather predictions.
One of the most interesting parts of this eclipse cycle is Spain’s unique position. The country lies within the path of totality for both the 2026 and 2027 eclipses, offering two very different experiences only one year apart.
In 2026, Spain will provide a low sunset eclipse across northern and central regions. Open landscapes in Castilla y León, especially near León, Burgos and Palencia, are expected to be popular because of their clear western horizons and slightly higher sun angle. Coastal and eastern regions may provide more dramatic scenery, though haze and obstructions are more likely there.
In 2027, attention shifts to Andalucía in southern Spain. The eclipse will occur high in the sky, with totality lasting more than four minutes near the Strait of Gibraltar. Places such as Tarifa, Cádiz and nearby inland towns will offer wide-open views and long durations of totality, although heavy crowds are expected.
The difference between the two eclipses is remarkable. One will offer a brief and cinematic sunset eclipse, while the other will provide a long-lasting spectacle high overhead. Anyone who visits Spain for both eclipses will experience two completely different styles of total solar eclipse.
Eclipse chasing is ultimately about choosing the kind of experience you want. If you are deciding between the 2026 and 2027 eclipses, think carefully about where you would most like to travel. Tyler Nordgren, an astronomer and eclipse artist based in Ithaca, New York, told Space.com that people should choose destinations they genuinely want to visit, regardless of the eclipse itself.
Experiencing Iceland in August with near-midnight sunlight is already a dream trip for many travelers. Touring Spain’s castles or exploring Greenland’s Arctic fjords can also be unforgettable journeys on their own.
No matter where you go, it is important to remember the realities of eclipse day. You may plan to stand on the centerline for the longest totality possible, but clouds could force you to move toward the edge of the eclipse path where totality lasts only a few seconds. As long as you stand within the moon’s umbral shadow, the experience will remain extraordinary, because witnessing a total solar eclipse is the true reward.
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