The Government announces the 20 municipalities from where the total solar eclipse of 2026 can be seen
The Catalan government will control capacity at observation points, some of which could have peaks of up to 8,000 fans.
BarcelonaMore than a century later, Catalonia will once again experience a total solar eclipse, a rare astronomical phenomenon that will darken the sky for just over a minute and a half. Although relatively common globally, their shadow rarely crosses the exact same area. In Catalonia, this hasn't happened since 1905. On August 12, 2026, the eclipse will be most visible in the Terres de l'Ebre and Lleida regions, and this Thursday the Catalan government announced the municipalities where the first safe viewing points will be set up. For now, there are about twenty locations.
"August 12, 2026, is an opportunity to champion science in Catalonia, at a time when other regions and developed countries are affected by significant denialist movements. We are a country that supports science and we reaffirm Catalonia's scientific tradition," said the President of the Generalitat, Salvador.
Given the large number of astronomy enthusiasts expected to arrive in the areas of "total visibility" across the country—that is, the points from which the eclipse will be easiest to see—the Government has specified that, while the list may still change, viewing platforms will be available in these twenty selected municipalities. With this announcement, President Salvador Illa officially launched the Year of the Total Solar Eclipse 2026, during which scientific, educational, and cultural activities will be organized for the enjoyment of astronomy enthusiasts.
The selection criteria for the locations were based on scientific and logistical considerations. They had to be points where the eclipse could be seen for more than 55 seconds, with populations exceeding 3,000 to avoid overwhelming small towns lacking sufficient infrastructure, and with a clear view to the west at 8:30 p.m., the time when the sun will be completely obscured. Furthermore, good visibility was sought across more than 60% of the municipality. In this initial diagnostic phase, 27 sites were identified, offering a total of 334,404 square meters of available viewing space. The current maximum estimated capacity is 85,200 people. The final list of municipalities proposed as suitable viewing locations will be finalized in December and may change slightly from the current list. What is already clear is that the further south in the country the location, the better the visibility will be.
One person per four meters
Civil Protection and the Government are still working to determine how many people can travel to see the phenomenon and to control capacity to ensure the safety of attendees. "We estimate that there will be an average of 3,000 people per observation point, although in some places like Reus there could be up to 8,000. In others, however, there won't be even 1,000. We have calculated one person per four square meters to guarantee safety," explains Sergio Delgado, Deputy Director of Programs at Civil Protection.
The proposed viewing locations have been evaluated using shadow simulators to verify the actual visibility of the phenomenon. In addition, Rural Agents visited the selected locations in August, at the same time the eclipse will occur in 2026, to assess the actual viewing conditions and accessibility and to identify potential risks such as fires or impacts on protected natural areas. Civil Protection has validated the locations in terms of risk, the Catalan Traffic Service has studied traffic flow, and the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan Police) have reviewed the safety conditions. To coordinate the eclipse day, the Catalan Government created the Interdepartmental Eclipse Commission in May, chaired by President Illa and coordinated by Minister Montserrat, with the participation of fifteen departments and the advice of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia. "The eclipse must be experienced in a safe environment, and this is one of our priorities, which is why we have been working on this for months," emphasizes the Director General of Civil Protection, Marta Cassany. The executive will deploy a special coordination mechanism with the emergency services, which will include the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police), the Fire Department, the Medical Emergency System (SEM), rural agents, local police forces, the Catalan Traffic Service, and the city councils. The coordination center will be located in Reus, from where the entire situation will be monitored and any incidents will be addressed. In addition, each municipality will be required to develop its own action plan. In this regard, the following will be key: involvement of local councils to identify their mobility and equipment needs so that visitors can enjoy this historical event, but also their opportunities. For example, promoting cultural and gastronomic resources in the days leading up to and following the event. Each municipality will be responsible for its local offerings, supported by the Generalitat.
Al official eclipse website All information about safe viewing points, including coordinates, maximum capacity, access, risks, shadow maps, informational materials, and recommendations for enjoying the phenomenon safely, can be found here.
Workshops and activities in schools
The Illa administration sees the eclipse as a great opportunity to boost research, outreach, and astrotourism, as well as to encourage citizen participation. According to the Minister of Research and Universities, Núria Montserrat, the eclipse is not only a scientific phenomenon but also an event of great historical and cultural importance. "It's a beautiful phenomenon that will remain in society's memory and will allow us to develop new solar observation technologies," she says. In the coming months, talks, workshops, solar observations, and educational activities will be organized throughout the region, especially aimed at schools, children, and young people. These activities will also include training on how to observe the eclipse safely, the correct use of certified eclipse glasses, and other preventative measures. All of this is intended to encourage Catalonia to look up at the sky.