Updated ☀️ Solar eclipse & Perseids - August 12, 2026

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth.

A total solar eclipse will occur on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - in just less than a year’s time.

We are going to Iceland to see it. And in retirement we have the time to plan a holiday around it.

In Reykjavík, the eclipse will run as follows;.

• 16:47:11 - Start of Partial Eclipse

• 17:48:16 - Start of Total Eclipse

• 17:48:47 - Maximum Eclipse

• 17:49:17 - End of Total Eclipse

• 18:47:40 - End of partial Eclipse

So nearly 2 hours of an experience with the Total Eclipse lasting just 1 minute.

I incorrectly assumed that I would need to be further west than Reykjavik to see the total eclipse - but I now understand the diagrams a little better, and now planning to stay in Reykjavik.

I've also realised something else....

As if the eclipse wasn't enough, the annual August Perseids meteor storm is expected to peak on the night of the 12 August - which just so happens to be the same night as the solar eclipse. Meteors should be visible in large numbers for days before and after the 12 August. By mid-August the sun is setting around 22:00 in Iceland - so it could be a fantastic stay if the clouds behave.

Read the related posts in this Eclipse category to understand how I apply my tried and tested approaches to getting good value for this and other unique travel plans.

Happy travels!