12 August 2026 | Total solar eclipse over western Iceland
On 12 August 2026 the path of totality crossed western Iceland, the first total solar eclipse over the country in generations, and many travellers came to Iceland for it. In the end, the day was decided by the weather.
What happened on eclipse day
Bad weather and heavy cloud covered most of Iceland that afternoon, and we were not able to see the full solar eclipse.
- Gaps in the cloud: some people saw part of the eclipse in places where the sky opened up for a short time.
- Clear at sea: fishermen out in different parts of Iceland reported that they saw it, because the sky was clear on their side.
- Under the cloud: inside the path of totality the daylight still dropped for a couple of minutes, even where the sun itself stayed hidden.
That is Iceland: the weather can be completely different a few kilometres away, and on eclipse day the clear patches were small and on the move.
Where totality crossed Iceland
For the record, these were the expected totality times by region. All times are UTC, which is also Iceland time.
| Location | Expected totality | Approx. time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Látrabjarg / Westfjords | Up to ~2 min 13 s | ~17:43 |
| Ísafjörður area | About 2 min | ~17:43–17:44 |
| Grundarfjörður | About 1 min 50 s | ~17:46 |
| Stykkishólmur | About 1 min 40 s | ~17:46 |
| Reykjanes Peninsula | Shorter, in the best spots | ~17:47–17:48 |
| Reykjavík | Partial eclipse only | No totality |
What eclipse day taught us
The people who had the best chance were the ones who could move. Cloud in Iceland breaks and closes quickly, and being able to drive towards a gap, or simply being in the right place, made the difference. If you plan a trip around a sky event here, whether an eclipse or the northern lights, keep your plans flexible and check vedur.is for the cloud cover forecast on the day.
The eclipse regions are still worth the drive
The west of Iceland that sat under the eclipse path is one of the best campervan trips in the country, eclipse or not. Snæfellsnes has Kirkjufell, Arnarstapi and Djúpalónssandur within a day's drive. The Westfjords reward a slower trip with quiet fjords and very few crowds.
- Golden Circle & Snæfellsnes: a 3-day campervan route
- Westfjords campervan guide
- Map of campsites in Iceland
Frequently asked questions
Did people see the 2026 solar eclipse in Iceland?
Not many. Bad weather and heavy cloud covered most of the country. Some people saw part of it where the sky opened up for a while, and fishermen out at sea in different parts of Iceland reported that they saw it because the sky was clear on their side.
Could you see totality from Reykjavík?
No. Reykjavík was outside the path of totality and only had a partial eclipse. Totality crossed the west: the Westfjords, Snæfellsnes and parts of the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Planning a trip to Iceland? See our campervans and live prices. We are 7 minutes from Keflavík Airport, with free airport transfer.