A total solar eclipse is scheduled for August 2, 2027, with its path of totality crossing Europe, North Africa and parts of the Middle East. The event is projected to be one of the longest total solar eclipses of the 21st century.
The maximum totality is expected to reach 6 minutes and 23 seconds in Egypt. This duration makes it the longest total solar eclipse visible on easily accessible land until the year 2114. For comparison, the solar eclipse of July 22, 2009, had a totality of 6 minutes and 39 seconds but occurred primarily over the Pacific Ocean.
Path of totality and regional durations
The path of totality will include southern Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia. In Spain, reports on the duration of totality vary by location and source. One account states totality will last nearly 3 minutes in Cádiz and almost 5 minutes in Ceuta, while another specifies 2 minutes and 56 seconds in Cádiz and 4 minutes and 49 seconds in Ceuta. Other Spanish locations are projected to see 3 minutes and 21 seconds in Marbella and 4 minutes and 34 seconds in Melilla.
In the UK territory of Gibraltar, totality is expected to last 4 minutes and 28 seconds. In Italy, the island of Lampedusa will experience 2 minutes and 56 seconds of totality. Across North Africa, Tangier in Morocco is projected to have 4 minutes and 51 seconds, while Sfax in Tunisia will see 2 minutes and 56 seconds.
Egypt offers some of the longest viewing windows. Luxor is expected to experience approximately 6 minutes and 22 seconds of totality. The Siwa Oasis is projected to have 5 minutes and 33 seconds, while Asyut is estimated at 6 minutes and 7 seconds. In Saudi Arabia, Jeddah will see 5 minutes and 53 seconds of totality, and Mecca will experience 5 minutes and 10 seconds.
Partial visibility in Central Europe
Observers in France and Germany will see a partial eclipse rather than totality. In France, occultation is projected to reach approximately 51% in Paris and nearly 76% in Perpignan. The eclipse will also be partial in Germany. A total solar eclipse will not be visible in Germany again until 2081, and only in the far south.
Context from the 2026 eclipse
These projections follow the solar eclipse of August 12, 2026, which was visible in France. During that event, the level of solar disk occultation reached approximately 90% in the north, 92.2% in Paris, 97.8% in Toulouse and 99.5% in Biarritz. The maximum duration of that eclipse did not exceed 2 minutes and 18 seconds.
Tim Florian Horn, director of the Zeiss Grand Planetarium, noted the observational challenges posed by the sun's position. Dr. Kelly Korreck, a programme scientist for eclipses at NASA Headquarters, told Euronews Travel that temperatures could drop by as much as 10°C during an eclipse.
Future eclipses in Europe
Following the 2027 event, an annular solar eclipse is scheduled for January 26, 2028. Its path will cross South America and Portugal, including Madeira. In Spain, cities such as Barcelona, Córdoba, Cádiz and Seville will be in the path, with maximum coverage around 84%.
A total solar eclipse will occur on July 22, 2028, passing through Australia.
