August 12, 2026 will be marked as a historic date for astronomy in Spain. The Peninsula will witness a total solar eclipse that had not been seen from the peninsular territory in more than a century. An event that will mobilize thousands of people and that, given the narrow strip from which it can be observed in its entirety, can also be followed from home thanks to the extensive setup prepared by RTVE.
The eclipse will begin at 5:34 PM in the Bering Sea and end at 9:58 PM in the Atlantic, with a total duration of 264 minutes. In Spain, the totality can only be seen from a specific strip, while from other territories it will be partially visible.
To observe it directly, it will be essential to use approved glasses that comply with ISO 12312-2 or certified solar filters. This eclipse will also be the first in a succession of major astronomical events visible from Spain: on August 2, 2027, another total solar eclipse will arrive, and on January 26, 2028, an annular eclipse will take place.
The public radio and television broadcaster has designed special coverage that will allow the phenomenon to be followed from different points of the country and through multiple platforms. La 1, Canal 24 Horas, RNE, RTVE Play, and RTVE Noticias will be dedicated throughout the day to offer live images, scientific explanations, and connections with the main observation areas.
One of the great attractions will be the possibility of choosing between different live signals through RTVE Play and RTVE.es. The audience will be able to opt for the conventional broadcast, accompanied by journalists and experts, or access specific signals dedicated exclusively to images of the Sun. Connections from different points in Spain will also be available, so that each viewer can choose where they want to watch the eclipse from.
The coverage will also take into account one of the great enemies of any astronomical observation: the weather. RTVE will deploy mobile units along the path of totality to guarantee alternatives in case clouds prevent the phenomenon from being seen from certain places. In this way, even if the sky is covered in a specific location, the audience can resort to other signals to follow moments such as the so-called 'diamond ring' or the solar corona.
Yebes, one of the main centers of the broadcast
The Yebes Astronomical Observatory, in Guadalajara, will play a leading role. RTVE will use its observation instruments to offer high-precision images during the totality. The cameras and telescopes will allow a closer look at phenomena such as solar prominences, the chromosphere, and the corona, providing the viewer with a much more detailed perspective than what can be obtained with the naked eye.
The broadcast will also seek to offer a completely different perspective from the air. A special Iberia flight, IB1473, will incorporate a camera located on the aircraft to capture the advance of the Moon's shadow over the territory. The images will allow observing from a privileged position how darkness moves across landscapes, mountains, and coasts during the eclipse.
'Aquí la Tierra', at the forefront of the television special
On television, the main axis of the programming will be a special of 'Aquí la Tierra' on La 1 and Canal 24 Horas, which will be broadcast between 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM. Jacob Petrus will be on set, while Marc Santandreu will travel to the Yebes Observatory, where one of the main scientific events related to the eclipse will take place. From there, he will interview experts and explain the keys to the phenomenon.
The program will also connect with numerous places in Spain, especially those from which the totality can be contemplated. The broadcast will show how the event is experienced in streets, squares, beaches, mountains, and observatories, and will incorporate updated meteorological information, traffic data provided by the DGT, three-dimensional recreations, and recommendations for safely observing the Sun.
The special programming will even begin earlier. From 3:50 PM, 'Directo al grano', with Marta Flich and Martín Barreiro, will prepare for the arrival of the eclipse with reporters spread across different parts of the country and content aimed at explaining the phenomenon.
RNE also travels to Yebes
Coverage will not be limited to television. Radio Nacional de España will move 'Las tardes de RNE' to the Yebes Observatory, where Marta Solano will host the program live between 4:00 PM and 7:30 PM. The program will feature scientists and specialists, the participation of astronaut and biologist Sara García Alonso, and an interview with astronaut Pablo Álvarez Fernández from the telescope itself. There will also be connections with nearby towns, the Madrid Planetarium, and different RNE Territorial Centers.
In addition, RNE will broadcast a special edition of '24 horas' with experts from different scientific fields and professionals linked to projects related to the eclipse.
Coverage that will continue digitally
RTVE's setup will also have an important digital aspect. RTVE Noticias will offer minute-by-minute tracking with weather information, traffic, images, and the latest news from the observation areas. The digital team will also follow the conversation on social networks and verify content shared by users.
The platform will feature a special dedicated to the eclipse that brings together more than a hundred contents including news, reports, videos, audios, maps, and interactives. Among the available tools will be a calculator to find out the eclipses each user has been able to observe throughout their life and a map with more than 380 observation points in Spain.
RTVE Noticias will also premiere the video podcast 'Cuando cae la noche (por un momento)', focused on the scientific research that will be carried out during the eclipse and the technologies used to study the phenomenon.
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