🌒 Total Solar Eclipse in Mallorca 2026: Everything You Need to Know
On Wednesday, 12 August 2026, Mallorca will become one of the last places in Europe to experience a total solar eclipse before the path of totality continues out over the Mediterranean.
The eclipse will take place shortly before sunset, transforming the end of the day into twilight as the Moon completely covers the Sun. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the Balearic Islands since 1905, making it a truly historic event for Mallorca.
Find our favourite solar-eclipse events in Mallorca here.
🌘 Where will you watch Mallorca’s total solar eclipse?
Mallorca has announced nine official viewing points across the island.
⚠️ The most important thing to know: Plan ahead.
Authorities expect major traffic restrictions, road closures, full car parks and significant congestion across Mallorca, particularly from mid-afternoon onwards. If you’re planning to travel to watch the eclipse, don’t assume you can simply drive to a popular viewpoint shortly before it begins.
Choose your viewing location in advance, arrive with plenty of time, have a backup option and check the latest official traffic information before setting off.
The nine official viewing points have a combined estimated capacity of around 157,000 people, with capacities ranging from approximately 70,453 people at Circuit de Son Matamoros to 667 people in Maioris, Llucmajor. These locations were selected to help spread visitors safely across the island.
🌑 Eclipse Timings in Palma
The exact times vary slightly depending on where you are on the island, but in Palma the eclipse is expected to unfold as follows:
19:38 – Partial eclipse begins
Approximately 20:31 – Totality begins
20:32 – Maximum eclipse
Approximately 20:33 – Totality ends
Around 20:49 – Sunset while the eclipse is still in progress
Mallorca will experience around 90 seconds of totality, although the exact duration depends on your location. During maximum eclipse, the Sun will be only around 2° above the western horizon, making your viewing location particularly important.
📍 Where to Watch the Eclipse in Mallorca
The eclipse can be enjoyed from many locations across Mallorca, provided you have a clear, unobstructed view towards the west or west-northwest.
Rather than travelling across the island in search of the “perfect” viewpoint, the Balearic Government recommends checking whether the eclipse will already be visible from your home, accommodation or another suitable location nearby.
Potential viewing areas include:
- Platja de Palma
- Santa Ponça
- Maioris and the coastline towards Tolleric
- Sant Elm
- Palma’s seafront
- Southwest Mallorca’s beaches
- Other locations with an unobstructed western horizon
Popular locations such as Formentor, Port de Sóller and viewpoints in the Serra de Tramuntana are expected to become extremely congested and should only be considered after checking visibility and confirmed road restrictions.
🗺️ Official Observation Zones
The Balearic Government has designated nine official observation zones in Mallorca:
- Circuit de Son Matamoros, Sineu (capacity for approx. 70,453 people)
- Platja de Palma (47,818)
- Ronda de Porreres (10,781)
- Platja de Santa Ponça (8,477)
- Camp de Futbol d’Algaida (6,231)
- Camp de Futbol de Pina (5,731)
- Coastline from Maioris to Tolleric (4,749)
- MA-3220 Car Park, Petra (2,775)
- Maioris, Llucmajor (667)
These are not necessarily the locations from which the eclipse will look most spectacular. They were selected after more than 100 possible sites were assessed according to visibility, accessibility, capacity, parking and the ability of emergency services to respond safely.
The official zones are intended to distribute visitors more evenly, reduce pressure on environmentally sensitive areas and provide safer, more manageable observation points.
View the official list and map here:
👉 Official Observation Zones – Govern de les Illes Balears
If you already have a nearby location with an open western horizon, there is no need to travel to one of the official observation zones.
🔭 Check Your Viewing Location
Before deciding where to watch, use Horitzó 2026, the Balearic Government’s interactive planning tool.
It allows you to:
- Check whether the eclipse will be visible from your exact location
- View the surrounding horizon
- See the direction of the eclipse
- Preview the Sun’s position
- Test your chosen viewpoint before eclipse day
👉 Check your location with Horitzó 2026
The Spanish National Geographic Institute also provides an official interactive eclipse map showing the circumstances of the eclipse at locations across Spain:
Between 7 and 11 August, you can also conduct a simple real-world check. Go to your chosen location at the reference time shown in Horitzó 2026 and look towards sunset while wearing certified eclipse glasses. If the Sun is visible at the indicated time, you should be able to see the total phase from that spot on 12 August.
🚗 Traffic Restrictions and Road Closures
Mallorca’s eclipse traffic plan will affect approximately 20 roads leading to mountains, beaches, lighthouses, viewpoints and other places where overcrowding is expected.
In general, restrictions will apply between 15:00 and 21:00, although police may introduce them earlier if traffic, capacity or safety conditions require it. Monitoring of the main Serra de Tramuntana access points will begin on 11 August, with intensified mobility controls from 10:00 on 12 August.
Residents, essential services, scheduled public transport and people who can demonstrate that they need to reach their accommodation will generally be exempt, subject to the conditions applied at each checkpoint.
Serra de Tramuntana and the Ma-10
General traffic on the Ma-10 will be restricted from 15:00, or earlier if required.
Access will be maintained for:
- Residents
- People who can prove they need to reach accommodation in the area
- Essential services
- Regular public transport
- Other authorised or justified journeys
Anyone planning to watch from the Tramuntana should therefore arrive only where legally permitted and avoid relying on a last-minute drive into the mountains.
Specific control points include:
- Sant Elm: Ma-1030 at the s’Arracó access roundabout and its junction with the Ma-1050
- Andratx: Ma-10 junction with the Ma-1031
- Estellencs: access to the municipality’s coves, including Camí des Port and Cala Estellencs
- Banyalbufar: access towards Cala Banyalbufar via Camí des Molí
- Esporles: Ma-1100 junctions with the Ma-1101 and Ma-10
- Valldemossa: Ma-10 access from the Ma-1130
- Deià: Camí de sa Cala, the Cala Deià road and access to sa Foradada
- Sóller: Monument roundabout and the junction of the Ma-10 and Ma-11
- Fornalutx: access to the Ma-10 at kilometre 47.5 and the Ma-2120 junction
- Escorca: junction of the Ma-2141 and Ma-10
- Caimari: Ma-10 closure from the Ma-2130 at Creu de Caimari
- Pollença and Formentor: closure at kilometre zero of the Ma-10, with access towards the Ma-10 limited to residents, plus controls at the Ma-2210 and Ma-2200 junction towards Mirador des Colomer and the Formentor lighthouse
Other Restricted Roads and Natural Areas
Controls are also planned at the following locations:
- Maioris and Puig de Ros: Ma-6014 accesses at approximately kilometres 6.2 and 7
- Cap Blanc: Ma-6014 at approximately kilometre 18
- Randa and Santuari de Cura: Ma-5018 from the beginning of the ascent
- Sant Salvador: Ma-4011 at approximately kilometre 1
- Ermita de Betlem: Ma-3333 at approximately kilometre 5
- Ermita de Bonany: beginning of the ascent via Camí de Son Torrat
- Faro de ses Salines: Ma-6110 from the beginning of the access road
- Es Trenc, ses Covetes and ses Salines: Ma-6040 at approximately kilometre 9
Restrictions may involve road closures, controlled access, diversions or limits introduced when parking areas and destinations reach safe capacity.
🚦 Palma and Platja de Palma
Palma will activate a dedicated municipal civil-protection plan for the eclipse.
Confirmed measures include:
- Restrictions on access and parking in Platja de Palma
- Traffic regulation on the Ma-19
- Measures to keep public transport operating
- Protected access to hospitals and essential services
- Measures intended to maintain access to Palma Airport
- Increased emergency and security coordination
The exact streets, access points and municipal timings may be adjusted according to traffic and crowd levels, so visitors should check the latest official information shortly before travelling.
⚠️ Important Warning About the Serra de Tramuntana
The Serra de Tramuntana will be subject to extensive controls because of its narrow roads, limited parking, wildfire risk and the difficulty emergency vehicles could face if the area becomes congested.
It is also important to remember that being high in the mountains does not guarantee a better view. Since the eclipsed Sun will be extremely low, peaks, ridges and nearby terrain may obscure the western horizon.
Do not drive into the Serra in the afternoon expecting to find an improvised roadside viewpoint. Roads may already be restricted, parking may be unavailable and stopping on verges could obstruct emergency access.
Use Horitzó 2026 to check visibility before choosing a mountain location and follow all instructions from police, emergency services and local authorities.
🌲 Protecting Mallorca’s Natural Environment
August is a period of extreme wildfire risk in Mallorca, and thousands of people gathering in forests, mountains and rural areas could make emergency access much more difficult.
Visitors must:
- Never light fires, camping stoves or barbecues
- Never use fireworks or flares
- Dispose of cigarettes safely and never smoke in prohibited areas
- Avoid parking on dry vegetation
- Keep roads, tracks and emergency access points completely clear
- Stay within authorised areas and marked routes
- Respect protected land and private property
- Take all rubbish home
- Follow instructions from police, Civil Protection, firefighters and environmental officers
Access may be restricted or closed once an area reaches its safe capacity.
🚤 Watching From the Sea
A boat may provide an open western horizon, but the authorities expect a significant increase in maritime traffic during the eclipse.
Surveillance and emergency resources will be reinforced through coordination between the Guardia Civil, Policía Nacional, Salvamento Marítimo, Capitanía Marítima and other agencies.
Anyone watching from the sea should:
- Remember that darkness will arrive very quickly after totality
- Use an experienced, authorised operator
- Follow all instructions from maritime authorities
- Avoid overcrowded anchorages
- Carry the required safety equipment
- Keep navigation lights and communication equipment ready
- Never wear eclipse glasses while navigating or moving around the boat
😎 Watching the Eclipse Safely
Use certified eclipse glasses (ISO 12312-2) whenever any part of the Sun remains visible.
Never use:
- Sunglasses
- Homemade filters
- X-ray film
- Smoked glass
- Damaged eclipse glasses
Only remove your eclipse glasses during the brief period of complete totality, and put them back on as soon as the first bright sunlight reappears. Children should always be supervised.
☀️ Practical Tips
- Decide where you’ll watch well in advance.
- Check your western horizon before the day.
- Arrive early.
- Bring certified eclipse glasses.
- Pack water, sunscreen and a hat.
- Download maps in advance.
- Carry a power bank.
- Expect mobile networks to become busy.
- Bring a torch for after sunset.
- Plan your journey home.
- Have a nearby backup location in case your first choice is full.
🚤 Special Eclipse Experiences
Hotels, restaurants, beach clubs, boat operators and astronomy organisations are planning special eclipse experiences across Mallorca, including:
- Sunset sailing trips
- Rooftop viewing experiences
- Beach events
- Guided astronomical observations
- Wellness experiences
- Special dinners
Find our favourite solar-eclipse events in Mallorca here.
Many experiences have limited capacity and are expected to sell out, so advance booking is strongly recommended. Always confirm whether certified eclipse glasses are included and whether the venue genuinely has an unobstructed western horizon.
✨ A Historic Evening for Mallorca
For approximately 90 unforgettable seconds, daylight will fade as the Moon completely covers the Sun above Mallorca.
Whether you experience it from home, an official observation zone, a beachfront event or the deck of a boat, a little planning will make all the difference.
Enjoy this extraordinary evening safely, follow official guidance and remember that you don’t need to gather at the island’s most famous viewpoints to experience one of nature’s greatest spectacles.
☀️ Practical Tips
- Decide where you will watch well in advance.
- Check the western horizon using Horitzó 2026.
- Avoid travelling across Mallorca unnecessarily.
- Arrive early, but never park illegally or block access.
- Bring certified eclipse glasses for every person.
- Check glasses for scratches, holes or other damage.
- Bring water, sunscreen, a hat and any food or medication you need.
- Download maps and important information in advance.
- Keep your phone charged and consider carrying a power bank.
- Expect mobile networks to become congested.
- Bring a torch for after the eclipse.
- Arrange your journey home before travelling.
- Do not rush to leave immediately after totality, when roads may be busiest.
- Check official traffic and emergency updates again on 11 and 12 August.
- Have an alternative nearby location in case your first choice is inaccessible or full.
Disclaimer
While we’ve made every effort to ensure the information in this guide is accurate at the time of publication, traffic restrictions, road closures, event details and official guidance may change. Please check the latest information from the relevant authorities before travelling and always follow instructions from local police and emergency services. The Calendar Mallorca cannot accept responsibility for changes, cancellations or disruptions beyond our control.
