Solar eclipse 2026: One in eight people worldwide see partial eclipse

As the Earth, Moon and Sun fell into perfect alignment for at least 15 million people, mostly in Spain, the sky went completely dark for almost two minutes. This time-lapse shows the view from the Spanish island of Mallorca. In Iceland, people cheered as they too experienced a total solar blackout. And in Paris, where the eclipse was nearly total at about 92 percent, observers had trouble putting their emotions into words. We saw the colours change and there was such an incredible atmosphere. It's very particular and hard to describe, but we feel very moved and very happy. We feel small in the face of such an immense universe, and to see something like this is very moving. London also experienced a near-total solar blackout, and scores of people turned out to experience it. The atmosphere is marvellous. And I will remember it, seeing the eclipse next to Big Ben. It was something very special. I mean getting to watch it on Westminster Bridge, looking at Big Ben in the background. And yeah, got to see it get darker and darker and then see 91 percent, it's not bad. Europe's next total solar eclipse will happen in less than a year, on August 2nd of 2027. The total darkness will last more than six minutes, or three times longer, as it crosses parts of southern Europe, including Spain, North Africa and the Middle East.