Crowds gather around the world to catch rare solar eclipse. See photos
Updated Aug. 12, 2026, 3:57 p.m. ET
The solar eclipse wows millions with a rare show, creating totality in Europe and a partial view in the US.
A woman wears eclipse glasses in Almelo, eastern Netherlands on Aug. 11, 2026 on the eve of a partial solar eclipse. The scramble for protective glasses has reached fever pitch across Europe ahead of Aug. 12, 2026 rare total solar eclipse, as pharmacies, opticians and other shops struggled to keep them in stock.
VINCENT JANNINK, ANP/AFP Via Getty ImagesA woman wears eclipse glasses in Almelo, eastern Netherlands on Aug. 11, 2026 on the eve of a partial solar eclipse. The scramble for protective glasses has reached fever pitch across Europe ahead of Aug. 12, 2026 rare total solar eclipse, as pharmacies, opticians and other shops struggled to keep them in stock.
The moon partially covers the sun during a total solar eclipse as seen from the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory in Arcos de las Salinas, near Teruel, Spain, on Aug. 12, 2026.
Christian Hartmann, Reuters
A woman wearing protective glasses gestures, as she observes a solar eclipse before totality in Navarrete, northern Spain, on Aug. 12, 2026.
Vincent West, Reuters
The moon completely covers the sun during a total solar eclipse as seen from Arija, Spain, on Aug. 12, 2026.
Borja Suarez, Reuters
A boy wears protective glasses to observe a partial solar eclipse in Prague, Czech Republic, on Aug. 12, 2026.
Eva Korinkova, Reuters
A fish jumps out of the water during a solar eclipse as the moon partially covers the sun and briefly dims the afternoon light along the coast of Fregene, near Rome, on Aug. 12, 2026.
Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters
Shirin, age 5, wears protective glasses on the day of a solar eclipse in Visnjan, Croatia, on Aug. 12, 2026.
Antonio Bronic, Reuters
People use protective glasses to observe a total solar eclipse during a corrida (bullfight) in Huesca, Spain, on Aug. 12, 2026.
Philippe Gil Mir, Reuters
A man holds a protective glass to observe a partial solar eclipse in Budapest, Hungary, on Aug. 12, 2026.
Bernadett Szabo, Reuters
Arsenal fans watch the solar eclipse through protective glasses in the stands before the match on Aug. 12, 2026, in London.
Paul Childs, Action Images Via Reuters
People wear protective glasses to observe a solar eclipse before totality in Navarrete, northern Spain, on Aug. 12, 2026.
Vincent West, Reuters
The first visitors are gathering on the Olympiaberg in Munich's Olympiapark to watch the partial solar eclipse from there.
Felix Hörhager, Dpa Via Reuters
Smoke rises from a forest fire as people gather at Orzan Beach ahead of a total solar eclipse at sunset, in A Coruna, Galicia, Spain, Aug. 12, 2026.
Maria Alejandra Cardona, Reuters
Tourists look at the sunset the day before the solar eclipse, on the Costa da Morte ("Coast of Death"), once considered the end of the world and a traditional destination for pilgrims completing the Camino de Santiago, in northwestern Spain, Aug. 11, 2026.
Nacho Doce, Reuters
Angela Cordoba reacts as she wears virtual reality goggles next to her grandchildren, Gadea, 3, and Giulia, 6, as they attend an eclipse watch party on the day of a total solar eclipse in Buitrago del Lozoya, Spain, Aug. 12, 2026.
Susana Vera, Reuters
People lie down inside a portable planetarium during an eclipse watch party on the day of a total solar eclipse in Buitrago del Lozoya, Spain, Aug. 12, 2026.
Susana Vera, Reuters
Frenchman Leyssalle Anthony, 39, prepares a telescope to view the total solar eclipse from the beach, in Arija, Spain, Aug. 12, 2026.
Borja Suarez, ReutersFeatured Weekly Ad