The Short Answer
The next solar eclipse is an annular “ring of fire” on February 6, 2027, and after that comes the big one, a total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027 that will darken the skies over southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East for more than six minutes. So if you’re wondering when is the next solar eclipse worth planning a trip around, that August date is the one most eclipse chasers already have circled in red.
There’s a funny thing that happens the moment a total eclipse ends. The Sun edges back out, the birds start up again, everyone lowers their glasses, and almost immediately somebody asks, okay, so when’s the next one? It happened all over Europe on August 12 this year, when the Moon’s shadow swept across Iceland and northern Spain and gave the continent its first taste of totality in nearly three decades. If you were one of the people asking that question, this is for you.
Wait, When Was the Last Solar Eclipse?
Before we look forward, it’s worth knowing where we’ve just been, because when was the last solar eclipse is the other half of the question most people are really asking.
The most recent one was a total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. The path of totality entered from the Arctic, crossed Greenland and a sliver of Iceland, then swept diagonally across northern Spain right before sunset. Towns like León got a rare golden-hour eclipse, with the darkened Sun and its blazing corona hanging low over the western horizon. It was the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999, so for a lot of people over there it was a genuine once-in-a-lifetime event.
If you’re curious about why these things don’t happen everywhere all the time, our explainer on how often a solar eclipse actually occurs breaks down the orbital mechanics that make totality so rare for any single spot on Earth.
The Next One: February 6, 2027 and the Ring of Fire
The very next solar eclipse on the calendar isn’t a total one. It’s an annular eclipse, and those come with their own kind of beauty.
An annular eclipse happens when the Moon is near the far end of its orbit, so it looks slightly too small to cover the Sun completely. Instead of blacking it out, it leaves a brilliant ring of sunlight glowing around the edges. That’s where the nickname ring of fire comes from, and honestly the photos are stunning.
On February 6, 2027, that ring will be visible along a path crossing the southern Atlantic, touching parts of Chile and Argentina in South America before reaching the coast of West Africa. A much wider swath of South America, Antarctica, and western Africa will catch a partial version. One safety note here that trips people up, an annular eclipse never becomes safe to view with the naked eye, because the Sun is never completely covered. Keep those eclipse glasses on the whole time.
The Big One: August 2, 2027
Now for the eclipse everyone’s really talking about.
On August 2, 2027, the Moon’s shadow will race across southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and it will linger. At its peak, totality will last up to 6 minutes and 23 seconds, making it one of the longest total solar eclipses of the century and the longest you’ll be able to see from land until the year 2114. For comparison, the totality that crossed Spain this August lasted barely two minutes. This one is nearly three times longer.
The path is a traveler’s dream. It runs through southern Spain and Gibraltar, then Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, before crossing Egypt directly over the Valley of the Kings near Luxor and close to the Great Pyramid of Giza. From there it sweeps over Saudi Arabia, passing near Mecca, and finishes across Somalia and Yemen. Here’s the part eclipse chasers love. Most of that path runs through desert, so the odds of clear August skies are about as good as it gets. There’s a reason people are already booking hotels in Luxor for a date more than a year away.
What About the United States?
If you’re reading this from North America, I have slightly frustrating news. After the coast-to-coast eclipses of 2017 and 2024 spoiled American skywatchers, the next total solar eclipse crossing the contiguous United States isn’t until 2044, with another following in 2045.
That doesn’t mean nothing happens in the meantime. Partial and annular eclipses still pass over parts of North America now and then, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the sky. And of course, the two 2027 eclipses are absolutely worth traveling for if you can swing it.
One More Thing Sooner Than You Think
Quick technicality worth mentioning. While the next solar eclipse is February 2027, the next eclipse of any kind is a partial lunar eclipse on the night of August 27 to 28, 2026, when the Moon slides into Earth’s shadow and takes on a coppery glow. If you can’t wait until 2027 for your next sky show, that one’s just around the corner, and we’ve got the full rundown in our guide to why you should watch the sky this August. Not sure what else is up there right now? Our roundup of what you can see in the night sky tonight without a telescope is a good place to start.
How to Watch Safely
This part gets repeated every single time, and for good reason. Never look directly at the Sun during the partial or annular phases of any eclipse without proper protection. Regular sunglasses don’t cut it, no matter how dark they are. You need eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 safety standard, or a certified solar filter for your telescope or camera.
The only moment it’s ever safe to look with the naked eye is during the brief window of full totality in a total eclipse, when the Moon has completely blocked the Sun’s disk. The second the Sun starts to reappear, glasses go back on. During an annular ring of fire eclipse there is no safe naked-eye moment at all, since a sliver of Sun is always showing. For a full list of upcoming eclipse dates and local visibility, the detailed tables from timeanddate.com are worth bookmarking.
So, when is the next solar eclipse? February 2027 for the ring of fire, August 2027 for the one you’ll want to travel for. Start saving now.
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