🌒 Total Solar Eclipse in Mallorca 2026: Your Complete Local Guide
Where to watch, road closures, official observation zones, traffic restrictions, safety tips and everything you need to know before 12 August 2026.
On Wednesday, 12 August 2026, Mallorca will become one of Europe’s most spectacular places to witness a Total Solar Eclipse.
For just over 90 unforgettable seconds, daylight will turn into twilight as the Moon completely covers the Sun above the Mediterranean. It’s the first total solar eclipse visible from the Balearic Islands since 1905, making it a truly historic moment for the island.
Authorities expect one of the busiest days Mallorca has ever seen, with thousands of additional visitors travelling here specifically for the eclipse. Whether you’re a resident or visiting for the summer, a little planning will go a long way.
Here’s everything you need to know and you can find all our favourites events here.
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 and the end of the visible eclipse
Mallorca will experience approximately one and a half minutes of totality, although the exact duration depends on your location. During maximum eclipse in Palma, the Sun will be only around 2° above the western horizon.
This very low position means that even a relatively small mountain, building, tree or headland could obstruct the view. Choosing the right location is therefore more important than during most eclipses.
Where to Watch the Eclipse in Mallorca
The eclipse can be experienced from many locations around Mallorca, but you will need a clear, unobstructed view towards the west or west-northwest.
Coastal areas facing the sunset may offer excellent conditions, but a famous or elevated location is not automatically a good choice. In some areas, particularly around the Serra de Tramuntana, nearby mountains or headlands may block the Sun when it is at its lowest.
Rather than travelling across the island in search of a “perfect” spot, the Balearic Government recommends checking whether the eclipse will be visible from your home, accommodation or another suitable place nearby.
Potential viewing areas with open western horizons include:
- Platja de Palma
- Santa Ponça
- Maioris and the coastline towards Tolleric
- Sant Elm
- Open areas of Palma’s seafront
- Beaches and coastal locations in southwest Mallorca
- Other local spots with an unobstructed western horizon
Popular locations such as Port de Sóller, Formentor and viewpoints in the Serra de Tramuntana may become extremely congested. They should not be chosen without first checking visibility and the confirmed road restrictions.
Official Observation Zones in Mallorca
The Balearic Government has created 26 Official Observation Zones, known as Zones Oficials d’Observació or ZOO, across the Balearic Islands.
There are nine official zones across seven municipalities in Mallorca:
- Circuit de Son Matamoros, Sineu
- Platja de Palma, Palma
- Ronda de Porreres, Porreres
- Platja de Santa Ponça, Calvià
- Camp de Futbol d’Algaida, Algaida
- Camp de Futbol de Pina, Algaida
- Coastline from Maioris to Tolleric, Llucmajor
- MA-3220 car park, Petra
- Maioris, Llucmajor
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
Good to know: You do not need to travel to an official observation zone if you already have a safe nearby location with an open western horizon.
Check Whether the Eclipse Will Be Visible From Your Location
The Balearic Government has launched Horitzó 2026, a digital tool designed specifically to help people check their proposed viewing location.
The tool considers both your geographical position and the actual profile of the surrounding horizon. You can select a point using geolocation, coordinates or the map and check whether maximum eclipse will be visible from there.
It also includes:
- A compass showing the direction of the eclipse
- A simulation of the Sun’s position
- Information adapted to your selected location
- Tools to test your chosen viewpoint in advance
- Updated practical information for planning the 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: IGN Interactive Eclipse Map
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.ompletely different.
Special Eclipse Events in Mallorca
Hotels, restaurants, beach clubs, astronomical organisations and boat operators are planning special experiences across Mallorca, including:
- Sunset sailing trips
- Rooftop viewing experiences
- Beach and poolside events
- Guided astronomical observations
- Wellness experiences
- Special dinners and tasting menus
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.
