Published on
11/08/2026 - 4:30 GMT+2
Iceland is preparing for a rare total solar eclipse on 12 August, with thousands of visitors expected in the country's western regions to witness the Moon completely blocking out the Sun. It will be Iceland's first total eclipse since 1954, and the first visible from Reykjavík since 1433. The next is not expected until 2196.
The western Snæfellsnes Peninsula is expected to be one of the best vantage points in Iceland — and in the world. In the fishing village of Hellissandur, home to around 400 people, preparations are already underway for a dramatic influx of visitors.
The peninsula will also host the five-day Iceland Eclipse festival at the foot of the Snæfellsjökull glacier, overlooking the North Atlantic. Festival director Mitch Morales says the event draws an unusual mix of people.
