# Today, Mallorca Stops to Look Up: The Total Solar Eclipse
Today, Mallorca will witness a rare event. On 12 August 2026, the island will fall within the path of a total solar eclipse.
This is the first total solar eclipse visible from Spain since 1905. The Mediterranean, and especially the south of Mallorca, will be one of the best places in Europe to see it.
For a short time, the familiar light of the island will change. The sun will move low across the horizon. The moon will pass directly between the earth and the sun. Daylight will become darker, the air will feel different, and the sea will reflect an unusual sky.
For approximately 90 seconds, Mallorca will stop to look up.
## The essential eclipse times in Mallorca
The eclipse will take place during the evening, shortly before sunset. The following times are approximate local times for Mallorca:
- **The partial eclipse starts:** around 7:38 pm
- **Totality begins:** around 8:31 pm
- **Maximum totality:** around 8:31 to 8:32 pm
- **The total phase lasts:** approximately 90 seconds
- **Sunset:** around 8:49 pm, while the eclipse is still partial
The exact timing may vary slightly depending on your location. For precise information, check the official [Eclipse Safe Balearic Islands website](https://eclipsisegur.caib.es/) before choosing your viewing point. You can also check the location details for Palma through [Time and Date](https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/spain/palma?iso=20260812).
The sun will be very low on the northwestern horizon during totality. An unobstructed view will be important. Buildings, hills, trees, and coastal structures may block the eclipse. A clear view towards the sea or the northwestern horizon will provide the best conditions.
## A rare moment for Mallorca
Total solar eclipses are not unusual in the history of the planet. They are unusual from one specific location.
The last total solar eclipse visible from the Balearic Islands took place in 1905. Many generations have passed since residents and visitors were able to see the sun disappear completely during daylight.
We will not see anything like this on the island again for over a century and a half.
This makes the eclipse more than an astronomical event. It is also a shared moment for Mallorca. Visitors, families, local residents, photographers, sailors, and people watching from their homes will all be looking towards the same sky.
The event also creates a link between generations. People on the island today will see something that was seen by their grandparents and great grandparents. Future generations will speak about the eclipse of 2026 as an event remembered by those who were there.
The total phase will last for only around 90 seconds. The short duration is part of its significance. The moment cannot be repeated on demand. It cannot be extended. It must be observed while it happens.
## The light before totality
The eclipse will begin as a partial eclipse. At around 7:38 pm, the moon will start to move across the face of the sun.
The change will be gradual. The sun will remain bright, but its shape will slowly become different. Shadows may appear sharper. The light may lose some of its usual warmth. The surroundings will begin to look unusual as the eclipse approaches totality.
As the moon covers the sun completely, the final direct light will disappear. A ring of light will form around the dark outline of the moon.
The sun will turn into a ring of light, low on the horizon, almost touching the sea.
The combination of totality and sunset will make this eclipse especially distinctive. Mallorca will not experience a dark sky in the middle of the day. Instead, the event will take place within the changing colours of the evening. The horizon, the sea, and the last daylight will form part of the view.
Weather conditions will affect visibility. Clouds close to the northwestern horizon may hide the sun during the most important moments. For this reason, a clear horizon is more important than finding a high location.
## Choosing a calm viewing place
The island is seeing very high numbers of visitors today, and the roads are feeling it. Many people will be travelling towards coastal areas and open viewpoints.
A simple plan will make the evening easier:
1. **Leave early.** Allow additional time for traffic and parking.
2. **Choose the location in advance.** Confirm that the view towards the northwestern horizon is open.
3. **Avoid stopping in unsafe areas.** Do not block roads, entrances, emergency routes, or access for local residents.
4. **Bring water and necessary supplies.** The weather may remain warm before the eclipse.
5. **Use public transport, walk, cycle, or share a ride when possible.**
6. **Remain in the chosen location after the event if traffic is heavy.** A short delay may make the return journey safer and more comfortable.
Guests staying in the southeast of Mallorca can also ask the Santanyí Rentals team for local information. Our online guide includes information about beaches, day trips, and activities in the area. Our team is available by phone 24 hours a day for assistance during your stay.
## Eclipse safety
Looking directly at the sun can cause serious and permanent eye damage. Ordinary sunglasses are not sufficient protection.
Use approved solar viewing glasses or an approved solar filter. Check that the equipment is designed for direct solar observation and that it has no visible damage.
Do not use cameras, binoculars, telescopes, or other optical equipment without a suitable solar filter fitted correctly. Looking through unfiltered optical equipment can cause severe eye injury.
Follow the safety advice published by the [Government of the Balearic Islands](https://eclipsisegur.caib.es/). Instructions may also apply to children, organised viewing areas, traffic, transport, and coastal access.
The safest approach is to prepare before leaving your accommodation. Confirm that every person in your group has suitable eye protection. Explain the safety instructions to children. Keep the viewing equipment available until the partial eclipse has ended.
## A moment to remember
A wish for today: that for those 90 seconds, wherever you are, time slows down a little.
That you look up at the same sky your grandparents once did.
That the sea, the silence, and that strange light give you something no photo can fully capture, only memory.
The eclipse may be photographed and recorded from many locations. Images will be shared around the world. However, a photograph will not reproduce the complete experience. It will not capture the silence of the people around you, the changing light on the water, or the feeling of seeing the day become night above Mallorca.
Some experiences are measured in seconds but remembered for a lifetime.
## Enjoy the evening with consideration
A friendly tip: the island is seeing very high numbers of visitors these days, and the roads are feeling it.
If you can, head out early, pick your spot calmly, and whenever possible, walk, cycle, or share a ride, so everyone enjoys the day a little more peacefully, locals included.
Please take personal belongings and waste with you. Respect private property, protected areas, beaches, and natural spaces. Keep noise at a reasonable level. Follow instructions from local authorities and staff at official viewing locations.
A bit of patience today makes for a much better memory for everyone.
For guests planning a future visit to the southeast of Mallorca, [Santanyí Rentals offers villas, fincas, and holiday homes](https://www.santanyirentals.com/) in Santanyí, Es Llombards, Cala Figuera, Cala Llombards, Ses Salines, and nearby areas. Browse options such as [Villa Paula](https://www.santanyirentals.com/houses-villas-es-llombards/villa-paula-etv/9921-h1005), [Casa Calma](https://www.santanyirentals.com/houses-villas-son-moja/casa-calma-etv/6859-h1058), and [Casa Lloc Tranquil](https://www.santanyirentals.com/houses-villas-cala-figuera/casa-lloc-tranquil-etv/5757-h1060).
Tonight, the sun will set over Mallorca in a way that will not happen again for many years.
Clear skies, safe viewing, and a Mallorca that shines like never before.